FCC Receives Final Approvals for New Office of Economics and Analytics

The Federal Communications Commission has received all approvals required to launch its new Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), clearing the way for the office to become operational by the end of 2019. The FCC earlier in 2018 voted to create OEA to better integrate the use of economics and data into its rulemakings and other proceedings. This reorganization of the agency required approval from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the Office of Management and Budget. It also required the FCC to reach an agreement with the National Treasury Employees Union. All of these steps have now been completed.

OEA will bring together FCC economists, data professionals, and attorneys from across the agency, enabling them to work closely to improve economic analysis and data usage in agency proceedings. OEA will be staffed by approximately 100 employees drawn from bureaus and offices across the agency. The Acting Chief will be Giulia McHenry, who recently joined the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis (OSP) after previously serving as Chief Economist at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. OSP and its authorities and functions will shift to OEA.