FCC Finally Embracing Direct Final Rule to Ax Old Rules: FSF

The FCC should be applauded for using the direct final rule (DFR) as a tool to quickly do away with archaic rules on its books, Free State Foundation President Randolph May wrote Friday. The idea of agencies using the DFR that way has been around for decades, and now the FCC is embracing the approach, May said. Under the DFR process, there's still an opportunity for public comment, he noted, and adjustments can be made to ensure that serious, substantive objections are properly considered. A split FCC in July adopted an order clarifying that its bureaus have authority to delete rules under the DFR process without commission votes (see 2507240055).