Why Is the FCC Revising Its Cable Price Survey Again?

The form that drives the report

Every two years the FCC publishes a report comparing average rates for basic cable service, cable programming service, and equipment. That report comes from data collected through FCC Form 333, officially titled the Biennial Survey of Cable Industry Prices. The Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 requires the comparison. It must show prices charged by operators subject to effective competition alongside those that are not. The survey is the only source the Commission uses to build that comparison. No other data feeds the mandated report.

The form carries OMB control number 3060-0647.

Who fills it out

The current version covers 84 respondents. Those respondents submit 504 responses in total. Each response takes an estimated 7 hours to complete. That works out to 1,764 hours of burden per year across the industry. The obligation to respond is mandatory. No choice. The statutory authority sits in Sections 4(i) and 623(k) of the Communications Act of 1934 as amended. Respondents include for-profit businesses and state, local, or tribal government entities that operate cable systems.

What the revision review actually does

The notice published October 8, 2026, asks the public to weigh in on whether the collection remains necessary. Commenters can address the accuracy of the burden estimate. They can suggest ways to improve the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected. They can propose methods to minimize burden through automation or other technology. They can also recommend ways to reduce the load on small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. A valid control number must appear on the form or no penalty applies for non‑compliance. This is a revision of a currently approved collection, not a new one.

The timeline and how to respond

Written comments are due on or before December 7, 2026. They go to Nicole Ongele at the FCC via PRA@fcc.gov and nicole.ongele@fcc.gov. The contact phone number is (202) 418-2991. The document carries FR ID 371269 and appears at 91 FR 64377. The Commission has run this cycle multiple times before. Prior notices appeared in 2023, 2020, 2018, and 2015.

What changes for a cable subscriber

The survey itself does not set rates. It feeds the report that Congress uses to assess whether competition is working. If the revised form collects different data or covers different operators, the next biennial report could show a different picture. That picture influences policy debates but does not directly change a monthly bill. The notice does not say how many of the 84 respondents are still active in the market. It also does not disclose whether any operator has ever been penalized for non‑response.