Telecommunications:

Amendment of FCC Rules to Deregulate the Equipment Authorization Requirements for Digital Devices

OGC-96-21, Jul 2, 1996

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Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) new rule concerning the deregulation of equipment authorization requirements for digital devices. GAO found that: (1) the rule would create a new self-authorization process based on a manufacturer's or suppliers' compliance with FCC requirements and save the digital device industry approximately $250 million annually in administrative expenses; and (2) FCC complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.