Federal Communications Commission DA 25-1065 Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Advancing IP Interconnection Accelerating Network Modernization Call Authentication Trust Anchor ) ) ) ) ) ) ) WC Docket No. 25-304 WC Docket No. 25-208 WC Docket No. 17-97 SECOND ORDER GRANTING EXTENSION OF TIME Adopted: December 16, 2025 Released: December 16, 2025 Comment Date: January 20, 2026 Reply Comment Date: February 19, 2026 By the Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau: 1. By this Order, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants in part a motion for an extension of time to file comments and reply comments in the above-captioned proceeding filed by Public Knowledge on December 11, 2025, Public Knowledge, Motion for Extension of Time, WC Docket No. 25-304 et al. (filed Dec. 11, 2025) (Motion) (requesting that the Commission extend the deadline for initial comments to January 26, 2026 and the deadline for reply comments to February 25, 2026). in response to the October 28, 2025 Advancing IP Interconnection Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Advancing IP Interconnection et al., WC Docket No. 25-304 et al., Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 25-73 (rel. Oct. 29, 2025). For the reasons stated below, the Bureau finds that partial further extensions of both the comment and reply comment deadlines are warranted and thus extends the comment and reply comment dates to January 20, 2026, and February 19, 2026, respectively. 2. On October 28, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted the NPRM. Due to delays resulting from the government shutdown, the NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 26, 2025, establishing a comment filing deadline of December 26, 2025, and a reply comment filing deadline of January 26, 2026. Federal Communications Commission, Advancing IP Interconnection, Proposed Rule, 90 Fed. Reg. 54266 (Nov. 26, 2025). On December 2, 2025, the Commission, on its own motion, granted a limited extension of the comment and reply comment deadlines, to allow for more input on the complex issues covered by the NPRM and to give interested parties more time to develop fulsome comments that will enable a more informed decision by the Commission. Advancing IP Interconnection et al., WC Docket No. 25-304 et al., Order Granting Extension of Time, DA 25-1005 (WCB rel. Dec. 2, 2025) (First Comment Extension Order). 3. The NPRM seeks comment on complex issues relating to legacy interconnection requirements. Public Knowledge contents that the NPRM “poses an unusually large number of technical and legal questions that require careful analysis,” and that “[f]or many stakeholders, responding to these questions will require gathering data from providers, reviewing existing interconnection agreements, and analyzing complex technical and economic issues.” Public Knowledge Motion at 1-2; see also Letter from Christopher L. Shipley, Executive Director of Public Policy, INCOMPAS, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 25-304 (filed Dec. 12, 2025) (supporting Public Interest’s Motion for Extension of Time) (INCOMPAS Letter). Further, Public Knowledge asserts that the NPRM raises “particular concerns for small and rural carriers” that “often have limited staff and resources to devote to regulatory proceedings, and they may need additional time to assess how the Commission’s proposals would affect their operations and their ability to serve their customers.” Public Knowledge Motion at 2; see also INCOMPAS Letter at 1-2. Public Knowledge also explains that, “[d]ue in part to the backlog caused by the unique circumstances of the longest government shutdown in history, there are no fewer than eight significant proceedings with deadlines due over the holiday season,” and an extension would “allow parties to devote appropriate attention to the Commission’s questions without the constraints imposed by the holiday schedule.” Public Knowledge Motion at 2-3. 4. As set forth in section 1.46 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.46. the Commission does not routinely grant extensions of time for filing comments. In this case, however, we find that due to the increase in overlapping comment cycles in other proceedings during the same period as a result of the government shutdown See Revisions to Deadlines Following Resumption of Normal Operations, Public Notice, DA 25-943 (rel. Nov. 17, 2025). and the complexity of the issues raised in this proceeding, the public interest will be served by granting a limited further extension of the comment and reply comment deadlines. Although this extension is slightly shorter than requested by Public Knowledge, we find that it will allow adequate time for more input on the complex issues covered by the NPRM and give interested parties more time to develop fulsome comments that will enable a more informed decision by the Commission without introducing unnecessary delay in the proceeding. Accordingly, we extend the deadline for filing comments to January 20, 2026 and reply comments to February 19, 2026. 5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to section 4(i)-(j) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 154(i)-(j), and sections 0.91, 0.291, 1.3, and 1.46 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.3, 1.46, the Motion for Extension of Time filed by Public Knowledge on December 11, 2025 IS GRANTED IN PART to the extent described herein, and the deadlines to file comments and reply comments in response to the October 28, 2025 Advancing IP Interconnection NPRM in the above captioned dockets ARE EXTENDED to January 20, 2026, and February 19, 2026, respectively. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Joseph S. Calascione Chief Wireline Competition Bureau 2