Federal Communications Commission Contemplates Abolishing 98 Regulations Pertaining to Radio and Television Broadcasts
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took a significant step towards modernizing its regulatory framework by eliminating 98 obsolete and unnecessary rules related to AM and FM broadcasting at its August 7, 2025, open meeting. This move is part of the FCC's ongoing "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative.
The repealed rules include outdated subscription television procedures, antiquated equipment mandates from the 1970s, unnecessary authorization requirements for stereophonic sound programs, obsolete international broadcast provisions, and purely reference or duplicative sections.
One specific rule deleted concerned the closed captioning decoder requirements for analog television receivers, which became obsolete following the digital TV transition over a decade ago.
The repeals removed 71 rule provisions encompassing 98 individual rules, amounting to over 5,000 words and 12 pages from the FCC’s broadcast rulebooks. The eliminations were carried out via a streamlined "Direct Final Rule" process, which allows the removal of obsolete rules with minimal administrative delay unless significant public opposition arises.
Among the rules targeted for repeal are numerous rules between 73.4000 and 73.4280, which are primarily reference lists that cite various FCC and court orders, other commission rules, and federal statutes for convenience.
The FCC also removed rules related to Transmission Standards (73.1695) that outlined criteria for adopting new methods for transmitting radio or TV signals and Stereo Broadcasting (73.297, 73.597) requirements that mandated tests and measurements for FM stations before they could broadcast in stereo.
Chairman Brendan Carr emphasized that these eliminations clear out legal clutter, reflecting changes in broadcast technology and marketplace realities since the original rules were adopted, many since the 1970s and predating digital broadcasting.
The FCC appears to wish to streamline the process of adopting new transmission standards, as evidenced by its intention to remove rules related to specific meter and gauge installations for AM, FM, and noncommercial FM stations (73.58, 73.258, 73.558).
This move by the FCC is a significant step towards modernizing its regulations and adapting to current technological and operational realities.
The FCC eliminations cleared out legal clutter, reflecting changes in broadcast technology by removing rules related to Stereo Broadcasting, such as the criteria for FM stations to broadcast in stereo (73.297, 73.597). Additionally, the FCC modernized its regulatory framework by removing rules that regulated Transmission Standards for radio or TV signals (73.1695), which may pave the way for future advancements in radio technology, such as digital broadcasting.
