CBO Scores Senate Version of Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act

The Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2015 (S. 253) would require the Federal Communications Commission to prepare a biennial report for the Congress that assesses certain characteristics of the communications industry. S. 253 also would relieve the FCC of requirements to prepare certain other reports for the Congress on topics ranging from access to satellite services to prices for cable services. In all, the bill would eliminate more than 20 reports and notices, including some that remain in current law even though deadlines for their completion have passed.

Based on information from the FCC, CBO estimates that implementing the provisions of S. 253 would not have a significant effect on the agency’s costs. Any additional expenses the FCC would incur to prepare the new assessment of the communications industry would be offset by a reduction in costs that would otherwise be incurred for preparing the reports that would be eliminated under the bill.