Government Shutdown Maybe Avoided: FCC Business Continues for Now

As we go to press, it looks like the vote in the House of Representatives will avoid a government shutdown.  As a result, the FCC will remain open.  If the government does shut down, then the following will apply.

With a government shutdown looming, the FCC has issued a public notice indicating that it will continue operations “until further notice.”   The FCC’s public notice on January 30^th stated:

“The Federal Communication Commission’s current appropriation expires on Friday, January 30, 2026, at 11:59 pm EST.  In the event of a partial lapse in federal government funding after January 30, 2026, however, the Commission will continue normal operations until further notice.  The Commission’s public facing filing systems and databases will remain available, and normal filing deadlines under the Commission’s rules will apply.  If the Commission ceases normal operations, further guidance will be provided by a subsequent Public Notice.”

However, if the shutdown is not for a short duration, the FCC has issued a plan for an orderly shutdown for February:

"If the lapse in funding persists, the agency will furlough employees and take other actions in accordance with this plan.  Generally, during such a shutdown, all FCC activities will cease other than those immediately necessary for the protection of life or property, performing other excepted activities or those funded through a source other than lapsed appropriations such as auctions funds or carryover funds.  Suspended activities may include, among many others: Consumer complaint and inquiry phone lines cannot be answered; consumer protection and local competition enforcement must cease; licensing services, including broadcast, wireless, and wireline, must cease; management of radio spectrum and the creation of new opportunities for competitive technologies and services for the American public must be suspended; and equipment authorizations that requires pre-approval guidance or staff support, including those bringing new electronic devices to American consumers, cannot be provided."

You can see the Public Notice dated January 30^th regarding a partial lapse in funding here.     

You can see the FCC’s plan for an orderly shutdown here.