Part 63, Reducing Barriers to Network Improvements and Service Changes, Accelerating Network Modernization, WC Docket Nos. 25-208, 25-209, FCC 26-19

In the Report and Order for Implementation of Section 402(b)(2)(A) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (214 Streamlining Order), released on June 30, 1999, the Commission modified Part 63 to eliminate information submission requirements entirely for some categories of communications carriers and to reduce the submission requirements for other categories. As part of the 214 Streamlining Order, the Commission created a streamlined process to allow carriers’ affected customers to object to the proposed discontinuance, and, in the absence of sufficient grounds for denial, to automatically grant an application to discontinue service thirty-one (31) days after the Commission releases public notice of an application for non-dominant carriers, and sixty (60) days after release of public notice of an application for dominant carriers. In 2009, the Commission extended to providers of interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service the discontinuance obligations that apply to domestic non-dominant telecommunications carriers under section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. To reduce burdens on carriers, the 2016 Technology Transitions Order revised the rules governing the section 214(a) discontinuance process to provide streamlined treatment for applications to discontinue a service for which the requesting carrier has had no customers or reasonable requests for service during the 180-day period immediately preceding submission of the application. On November 16, 2017, the Commission adopted a Report and Order, Declaratory Ruling, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 17-154 (2017 Wireline Infrastructure Order), which modified the rules governing the section 214 discontinuance process to further streamline the discontinuance process or otherwise reduce the barriers to discontinuance in order to accelerate broadband deployment. On June 7, 2018, the Commission adopted a Report and Order, FCC 18-74 (2018 Wireline Infrastructure Second Report and Order), which further modified certain recordkeeping, recording, and/or filing requirements identified below that relate to the obligations of carriers seeking to discontinue a service. On March 26, 2026, the Commission adopted the Network and Services Modernization Order, which further modified certain recordkeeping, recording, and/or filing requirements identified below that relate to the obligations of carriers seeking to discontinue a service. More specifically, the Network and Services Modernization Order: (1) adopted one consolidated rule applicable to all technology transitions discontinuance applications; (2) granted blanket section 214(a) authority for carriers to grandfather legacy voices services, lower-speed data telecommunications services (defined as those operating at speeds below 25/3 Mbps), and interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service provisioned over copper wire; (3) adopted new requirements for providers seeking to discontinue a service supporting interconnection trunks or the exchange of traffic to ensure seamless 911 connectivity; (4) granted conditional forbearance relief from section 214(a) discontinuance requirements for resellers in specific situations; (5) applied the 31-day automatic grant period to all discontinuance applications; (6) adopted content requirements for discontinuance applications; and (7) permitted permanent discontinuance of services under specific circumstances after grant of emergency discontinuance authorization.

The latest form for Part 63, Reducing Barriers to Network Improvements and Service Changes, Accelerating Network Modernization, WC Docket Nos. 25-208, 25-209, FCC 26-19 expires 2029-09-30 and is listed under ICR 202607-3060-004.

View the official OMB control history on Reginfo.gov.