Federal Regulatory Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal regulatory agencies
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NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to Hold Oral Argument on Long Mott Construction Permit Application
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2026:
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NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to Hold Oral Argument on Long Mott Construction Permit Application
A Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will conduct an oral argument Feb. 26 on challenges to a construction permit application from Long Mott Energy, LLC, for a multi-unit advanced reactor facility in Calhoun County, Texas.
The oral argument will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern time. It will allow the board to ask questions regarding requests from the petitioner,
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2026:
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NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to Hold Oral Argument on Long Mott Construction Permit Application
A Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will conduct an oral argument Feb. 26 on challenges to a construction permit application from Long Mott Energy, LLC, for a multi-unit advanced reactor facility in Calhoun County, Texas.
The oral argument will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern time. It will allow the board to ask questions regarding requests from the petitioner,San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper, to add topics to the existing hearing regarding the application. The session will also address administrative matters for the full hearing. The three administrative judges on the board will hear arguments from representatives for the petitioner, Long Mott Energy, and the NRC staff.
The proceeding will be held virtually. It will be open to the public via a listen-only telephone line by dialing (301) 576-2978 and entering passcode 262 891 871#.
The board is composed of three administrative judges from the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel. Boards conduct adjudicatory hearings on NRC licensing and enforcement actions, and they are independent of the NRC staff. A board's rulings may be appealed to the Commission, the five-member body that sets NRC policy.
Information on the Long Mott Energy application review is available on the NRC website (https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/advanced/who-were-working-with/applicant-projects/long-mott.html).
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The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The global gold standard for nuclear regulation, the NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency.
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Original text here: https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-020.pdf
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Public Notice: Comment Dates For Numbering Policies For Modern Communications Third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Additional Measures for Interconnected VoIP Providers
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket Nos. 13-97, 07-243, 20-67) on Feb. 17, 2026:
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By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces that comments in response to the Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Third Notice) in the Numbering Policies for Modern Communications proceeding are due no later than March 16, 2026, and the reply comments are due no later than April 13, 2026./1 In the Third Notice, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks to
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket Nos. 13-97, 07-243, 20-67) on Feb. 17, 2026:
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By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces that comments in response to the Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Third Notice) in the Numbering Policies for Modern Communications proceeding are due no later than March 16, 2026, and the reply comments are due no later than April 13, 2026./1 In the Third Notice, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks torefresh the record on reclaiming numbering resources that were obtained directly from the Numbering Administrators by interconnected voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers that subsequently had their authorizations revoked or terminated./2
The Commission also seeks comment on whether the Commission should restrict VoIP numbering authorizations or reevaluate direct access authorizations for entities that appear on the Commission's list of equipment and services covered by section 2 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act ("covered list") or that have "covered" equipment in their networks./3 Finally, the Commission seeks comment on other restrictions or protections we should consider for VoIP numbering authorizations or numbering resources./4
The Third Notice set deadlines for filing comments and reply comments at 30 and 60 days after the date of publication of the summary of the Third Notice in the Federal Register./5 The Federal Register published a summary of the Third Notice on February 12, 2026./6 Complete filing instructions are contained in the Third Notice and the Federal Register Notice./7
For additional information, contact Jordan Reth by email at Jordan.Reth@fcc.gov or by phone at (202) 418-1418.
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Footnotes:
1/ Numbering Policies for Modern Communications et al., WC Docket Nos. 13-97 et al., Third Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 25-86 (Dec. 19, 2025) (Third Notice). The document is available on the Commission's website at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-25-86A1.pdf. The document is also available electronically via the Commission's Electronic Document Management System (EDOCS) website at https://www.fcc.gov/edocs (by Filing System (ECFS) website at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/ (by docket number, WC Docket Nos. 13-97, 07-243 and 2067).
2/ Third Notice at 15, para. 29.
3/ Id. at 15-16, para. 30
4/ Id. at 16, para. 31.
5/ Id. at 1.
6/ FCC, Numbering Policies for Modern Communications, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 91 Fed. Reg. 6608 (Feb. 12, 2026) (Federal Register Notice).
7/ Third Notice at 18, paras. 39-40; Federal Register Notice, 91 Fed. Reg. at 6608.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-165A1.pdf
FCC Proposes Accountability Reforms to Lifeline Program
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement by Chairman Brendan Carr:
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FCC Proposes Accountability Reforms to Lifeline Program
STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN BRENDAN CARR
Re: Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization; Bridging the Digital Divide for Low-Income Consumers; Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for Universal Service Support; Affordable Connectivity Program; Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, WC Docket Nos. 11-42, 17-287, 09-197, 21-450, 20-445, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (February 18, 2026).
Each year, Americans contribute
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement by Chairman Brendan Carr:
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FCC Proposes Accountability Reforms to Lifeline Program
STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN BRENDAN CARR
Re: Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization; Bridging the Digital Divide for Low-Income Consumers; Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for Universal Service Support; Affordable Connectivity Program; Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, WC Docket Nos. 11-42, 17-287, 09-197, 21-450, 20-445, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (February 18, 2026).
Each year, Americans contributemore than $8 billion to support the FCC's Universal Service Programs, including Lifeline. And Lifeline alone is a nearly $1 billion-per-year program that helps low-income Americans afford basic phone and Internet services. With this amount of funding comes an equally large responsibility. The FCC must be a good steward of those federal dollars and a vigilant administrator of its USF programs.
However, a recent Inspector General advisory identified serious integrity issues in the Lifeline program, including benefits being claimed for dead people and others who are not lawfully eligible under federal law. In just three "opt-out" states alone--states where the National Verifier was not used for eligibility--the Inspector General found that nearly $5 million in federal dollars went to provide phone or Internet service to more than 116,000 dead people. Over 80% of those scams took place in California alone.
My position on this is clear. To receive federal subsidies like Lifeline, you must be a living and lawful beneficiary. The government should not be spending the money of hardworking Americans to provide phone and Internet service to dead people. While some have tried to dismiss these findings as an unfortunate "reality of administering a large public program" where people die, the Inspector General's advisory shows that 40,000 or nearly 35% of the relevant people died or may have died before enrollment. And as of February 1, nearly 9,000 of them were still receiving subsidies despite having died at some point between 2020 and September 2025. I am happy to report that as of today, every one of the deceased individuals identified by the Inspector General is being de-enrolled from the program.
This failure in oversight undermines both taxpayer confidence and the program's ability to serve the low-income Americans that actually need the services. That is why I am advancing reforms to ensure that only living, lawfully eligible individuals participate in the Lifeline program, consistent with federal law. If adopted, these program changes would strengthen eligibility verification, close loopholes identified by the Inspector General, and restore confidence in Lifeline.
I would like to thank Mike Alonso, Bryan Boyle, Denise Golumbaski, Sam Lewis, Ashley Tyson, Eric Wu, Cara Voth, Malena Barzilai, Joseph Calascione, Andrea Kelly, and Steve Fecarotta at the FCC for their hard work on this item and the Inspector General for continuing to uncover fraud and help us safeguard our programs.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-418786A2.pdf
FCC Plans First Window for New NCE Reserved Band FM Translator Permits
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement by Chairman Brendan Carr:
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FCC Plans First Window for New NCE Reserved Band FM Translator Permits
STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN BRENDAN CARR
Re: FCC Seeks Comment on Proposed Application Limit for New Noncommercial Educational Reserved Band FM Translator Station Applications in Upcoming 2026 Window, MB Docket No. 26-20, Public Notice (February 18, 2026)
Today, we take steps to launch the first-ever filing window for FM translator stations in the band reserved for noncommercial radio service. The FM translator
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement by Chairman Brendan Carr:
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FCC Plans First Window for New NCE Reserved Band FM Translator Permits
STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN BRENDAN CARR
Re: FCC Seeks Comment on Proposed Application Limit for New Noncommercial Educational Reserved Band FM Translator Station Applications in Upcoming 2026 Window, MB Docket No. 26-20, Public Notice (February 18, 2026)
Today, we take steps to launch the first-ever filing window for FM translator stations in the band reserved for noncommercial radio service. The FM translatorservice was created over 50 years ago, but this window will mark the first opportunity for noncommercial FM, LPFM, and AM stations to obtain new FM translator stations. This will particularly benefit educational broadcasters, to allow them to extend the programming their stations provide to the public and reach remote, rural, and underserved communities.
Today, we seek comment on how to tailor this upcoming window. We explore eligibility requirements and application limits to prevent gamesmanship and preserve the airwaves for future local and community focused services. I look forward to seeing the positive results of this unique window and the continued growth of noncommercial service in the FM band.
For their great work on this item, I'd like to thank Jim Bradshaw, Joseph Cohen, Lisa Scanlan, Al Shuldiner, Joe Price, Erin Boone, and Amy Van de Kerckhove from the Media Bureau.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-418788A2.pdf
FCC Explores Updates to Intercarrier Compensation Regime
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement by Chairman Brendan Carr:
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FCC Explores Updates to Intercarrier Compensation Regime
STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN BRENDAN CARR
Re: Reforming Legacy Rules for an All-IP Future; Accelerating Network Modernization, WC Docket Nos. 25-311, 25-208, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (February 18, 2026).
Completing the transition to all IP networks will unlock real benefits for consumers. It will mean more investment in next-gen networks. It will mean more effective solutions to illegal robocalls. And it will mean
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement by Chairman Brendan Carr:
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FCC Explores Updates to Intercarrier Compensation Regime
STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN BRENDAN CARR
Re: Reforming Legacy Rules for an All-IP Future; Accelerating Network Modernization, WC Docket Nos. 25-311, 25-208, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (February 18, 2026).
Completing the transition to all IP networks will unlock real benefits for consumers. It will mean more investment in next-gen networks. It will mean more effective solutions to illegal robocalls. And it will meanmodern, competitive technologies, instead of slow, legacy networks built for a bygone era.
But for too long, outdated regulatory frameworks have skewed market incentives and slowed down the IP transition. It's time to remove these barriers and pave way for new deployments. Today's item keeps this momentum going by exploring how we can reform legacy intercarrier compensation rules and eliminate regulatory obligations that just don't make sense anymore.
At the same time, we know this transition can't be sloppy or rushed. As reflected in the item we are voting on today, the Commission will be moving forward in this proceeding in a thoughtful way, mindful of the complex issues, transition timelines, and paramount connectivity goals. That's why we're inviting meaningful collaboration from industry, our federal partners, and consumer groups on how to move the remaining pieces of intercarrier access and related rules to a bill-and-keep approach in a smart, practical way.
Bottom line is that we want to finish the job and do it right.
I would like to thank our staff for their hard work to get us one step closer. Thanks to Joseph Calascione, Allison Baker, Lynne Engledow, Irina Asoskov, Christopher Koves, Erik Raven-Hansen, Peter Bean, Marvin Sacks, Simon Solemani, Shabbir Hamid, and Sara Rahmjoo from WCB, Richard Kwiatkowski from OEA, Malena Barzilai from OGC, and Denise Coca, Arthur Lechtman, Brenda Villanueva, and David Krech from OIA for their hard work to get us one step closer.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-418791A2.pdf
FCC Expands Broadband Spectrum Opportunity for Utilities, Critical Infrastructure, and Business Enterprise Entities
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2026:
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FCC Expands Broadband Spectrum Opportunity for Utilities, Critical Infrastructure, and Business Enterprise Entities
New Rules Maximize the Potential of 900 MHz Band by Enabling Broadband Deployment Across All Ten Megahertz of the Band
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Today, the Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules to expand access to spectrum for utilities, critical infrastructure, and enterprise businesses deploying private 900 MHz broadband networks. The new rules will unlock the full 10
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2026:
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FCC Expands Broadband Spectrum Opportunity for Utilities, Critical Infrastructure, and Business Enterprise Entities
New Rules Maximize the Potential of 900 MHz Band by Enabling Broadband Deployment Across All Ten Megahertz of the Band
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Today, the Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules to expand access to spectrum for utilities, critical infrastructure, and enterprise businesses deploying private 900 MHz broadband networks. The new rules will unlock the full 10megahertz of the 900 MHz band for broadband use and eliminate regulatory barriers that have made a 5/5 broadband license an impossibility until now.
This action builds on the FCC's previous work to realign the band through a market driven transition and reflects the agency's commitment to ensuring that spectrum is used efficiently and in ways that strengthen the American economy. The spectrum resources made available through today's Commission action will stimulate the American economy by driving innovation by utilities, critical infrastructure, and other sectors. These rules will help to address growing demand for private and secure wireless broadband networks across these sectors.
The Report and Order will enable broadband on all 10 megahertz of the 900 MHz band (896-901 and 935-940 MHz), providing enhanced spectrum capacity to meet a wider range of broadband needs. These new rules introduce a county-level, negotiation-based process to enable broadband deployment where private agreements are reached.
The new rules allow the 900 MHz band to be used in a given county in any of three configurations: (1) a "legacy" configuration with 20 wideband channels interleaved with 200 narrowband channels; (2) one six-megahertz broadband segment consisting of two paired three-megahertz channels and two narrowband segments with a total of 159 narrowband channels; or (3) ten megahertz of broadband consisting of two paired five-megahertz channels and no reserved narrowband channels.
Action by the Commission February 18, 2026 by Report and Order (FCC 26-9). Chairman Carr, Commissioners Gomez and Trusty approving. Chairman Carr and Commissioner Trusty issuing separate statements.
WT Docket No. 24-99
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-418787A1.pdf
FCC Advances Transition to All-IP by Exploring Updates to Intercarrier Compensation Regime
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2026:
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FCC Advances Transition to All-IP by Exploring Updates to Intercarrier Compensation Regime
Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted on proposals that would explore how to successfully phase-out the intercarrier compensation regime for voice telecommunications providers. This is the latest FCC effort to move America's networks to Internet Protocol (IP) technology and address the outdated rules that keep Americans on legacy Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) technology.
While
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2026:
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FCC Advances Transition to All-IP by Exploring Updates to Intercarrier Compensation Regime
Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted on proposals that would explore how to successfully phase-out the intercarrier compensation regime for voice telecommunications providers. This is the latest FCC effort to move America's networks to Internet Protocol (IP) technology and address the outdated rules that keep Americans on legacy Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) technology.
WhileIP-based network technology has been widely deployed, some providers continue to maintain older TDM-based networks, in part due to outdated regulatory regimes which, decades ago, successfully sought to incentivize the buildout of telephone networks but, today, too often disincentivize network modernization. Completing the transition to IP-based networks will promote technological modernization, public safety, and consumer protection benefits while enhancing long-term competition and service quality for consumers and lowering operating expenses for providers.
The FCC is working to thoughtfully create the right incentives for providers to upgrade to modern, high-speed networks. As part of that effort, the agency seeks to eliminate intercarrier compensation regulations that may encourage providers to continue using TDM networks. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted today will begin a thorough review of the intercarrier compensation rules, proposing to sunset any outdated regulations while being mindful of the complex issues, transition timelines, and paramount connectivity goals. It builds upon the Commission's longstanding efforts to reform the legacy intercarrier compensation framework as part of its broader goal to transition networks to more efficient all-IP technology. Specifically, the Notice proposes to complete the transition of all remaining access charges to bill-and-keep, seeks comment on any cost recovery needed to accomplish this goal, further proposes detariffing those charges, and deregulating and detariffing end-user charges and interexchange services, among other reforms. Recognizing the importance of industry collaboration and input, the Notice also encourages industry collaboration to develop the most effective and efficient strategies for transitioning carriers to bill-and-keep and all-IP networks.
Action by the Commission February 18, 2026 by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 26-11). Chairman Carr, Commissioners Gomez and Trusty approving. Chairman Carr and Commissioner issuing separate statements.
WC Docket Nos. 25-311, 25-208
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-418791A1.pdf
