FCC’s ‘DOGE’ Overhaul: Streamlining Broadband Subsidies and Licensing
Background: The DOGE Op-Ed and Universal Service Fund Cuts
In a May 2025 op-ed for the Daily Caller titled “It’s Time for Trump to DOGE the FCC,” Commissioner Nathan Simington and his chief of staff, Gavin Wax, argue that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) needs a radical, “DOGE-style” reset. Their proposal would sharply reduce the agency’s Universal Service Fund (USF) spending—currently about $8 billion per year—and redirect a significant portion of those funds toward emerging satellite broadband platforms like Starlink.
Key Proposals
- Slash USF fees on consumer phone bills (currently adding ~36 percent to monthly voice tariffs).
- Redirect Lifeline and E-Rate subsidies from wired broadband to satellite and fixed-wireless services.
- Automate license processing with AI/RPA workflows to reduce manual reviews and speed time-to-market.
- Reassign Media Bureau staff to high-growth sectors (e.g., Space Bureau for spectrum and satellite operations).
Technical Feasibility: Satellite vs. Fiber Deployment
Simington’s call to favor LEO satellite systems isn’t purely ideological. Starlink’s constellation—now exceeding 5,000 satellites in LEO—offers aggregate downlink throughput of up to 1.5 Tbps per orbital plane, with typical end-user latencies of 30–50 ms. By contrast, rural fiber deployments (GPON or Active Ethernet) often cost $30,000–$50,000 per mile and require extensive trenching and right-of-way permits. Even so, fiber delivers symmetrical gigabit speeds and sub-5 ms latency.
Industry experts note that satellite broadband can fill last-mile gaps quickly, but capacity planning and spectrum congestion in Ka-band (26.5–40 GHz) remain challenges. Hybrid models—combining fiber backhaul with fixed wireless or satellite last-mile—may offer the most cost-efficient path in hard-to-reach areas.
Automated Licensing and Spectrum Management
Under current rules, non-contentious broadcast and spectrum licensing can take 60–120 days of manual reviews. Simington envisions a system leveraging:
- AI/NLP engines to parse Form 601 and Form 740 applications.
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA) for rule-based eligibility checks against Part 27 and Part 90 frequency allocations.
- Blockchain ledgers to provide transparent, immutable records of spectrum assignments and transfers.
Implementing these technologies could cut median approval times to under 5 days, according to MIT’s Administrative Data Lab. Pilot programs in the CBRS PAL market have already reduced sequencing delays by 40 percent.
New Section: Stakeholder Impact and Regulatory Risks
Broadcasters and rural telcos warn that steep USF cuts could stall fiber expansion and jeopardize school connectivity. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association projects that a 50 percent reduction in E-Rate funding would leave over 10 million students without reliable classroom Internet. Conversely, satellite operators and some fixed-wireless ISPs support a technology-neutral USF, arguing that legacy programs favor entrenched incumbents.
New Section: Latest FCC Developments
Since the op-ed’s publication:
- Senate confirmed Republican Olivia Trusty, setting up a 3-2 GOP majority.
- Chairman Brendan Carr opened the “Delete, Delete, Delete” docket, targeting over 100 legacy rules, including must-carry and retransmission consent requirements.
- The FCC launched a pilot using AI-driven spectrum sensors in the 3.5 GHz CBRS band to enable dynamic sharing with incumbent users.
New Section: Expert Opinions and Next Steps
Dr. Sheila Das, a broadband economist at Stanford, notes that “while satellite can provide rapid coverage, durable economic development often follows fiber’s high throughput and low latency.” Meanwhile, SpaceX policy lead Jorge Gomez says, “Expanding Starlink through public-private partnerships can accelerate rural connectivity if funding models adapt.”
With the FCC’s majority shift and growing pressure from Congress to curb telecom subsidies, a DOGE-style overhaul may be closer to reality than ever. However, balancing innovation, consumer costs, and long-term infrastructure resilience will require meticulous technical and economic analysis before any sweeping reforms take effect.