Happy Birthday, FCC Office of Economics and Analytics

Establishment of the Office of Economics and Analytics. This action is taken to enhance the role of economic analysis, the design and implementation of auctions, and the use and management of data at the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC determined that the proper dispatch of its business and the public interest will be served by creating an Office of Economics and Analytics. In the Order, the FCC amended its Rules to reflect the new organizational structure, describe the Office’s functions and delegated authority, and make other conforming changes. The FCC found it appropriate to make these organizational changes to integrate the use of economics and data analysis into the FCC’s various rulemakings and other actions in a more comprehensive and thorough manner. The Office will be charged with ensuring that economic analysis is deeply and consistently incorporated into the agency’s regular operations, and will support work across the FCC and throughout the decision-making process. Specifically, it will: (A) Provide economic analysis, including cost-benefit analysis, for rulemakings, transactions, adjudications, and other FCC actions; (B) manage the FCC’s auctions in support of and in coordination with FCC Bureaus and Offices; (C) develop policies and strategies to help manage the FCC’s data resources and establish best practices for data use throughout the FCC in coordination with FCC Bureaus and Offices; and (D) conduct long-term research on ways to improve the FCC’s policies and processes in each of these areas. The FCC will eliminate the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis and generally shift OSP authorities and functions to the Office of Economics and Analytics.

DATES: Effective December 7, 2018.