Media Contact: 
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC OPENS OFFICE OF ECONOMICS AND ANALYTICS
New Office Will Help Incorporate Economic Analysis into FCC Policy-Making
  -- 
WASHINGTON, December 11, 2018—Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai today announced the official opening of the FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA).  This new office will help consistently and thoroughly incorporate economic and data analysis into the policy-making work of the agency.  

“The communications sector is a major part of America’s economy, and our rules can substantially affect incentives of companies and consumers.  This makes it essential that we systematically incorporate sound economics in our work,” said Chairman Pai.  “This new office will ensure that strong economic analysis and data analytics inform our efforts.  I want to thank all the staff involved in the process of establishing this office; your work will have a lasting and positive impact on the Commission’s policies and structure.  I also want to specifically thank Wayne Leighton for his leadership during this transition.”

OEA strengthens and centralizes the role of economic analysis by housing the vast majority of Commission economists in one office, including the entire staff of the former Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis.  The new office includes four divisions: 

· The Economic Analysis Division, which provides analytical and quantitative support for rulemakings, transactions, reviews, adjudications, and other matters.  
· The Industry Analysis Division, which designs and administers significant, economically-relevant data collections.  
· The Auctions Division, which leads auction design and implementation issues, including for spectrum and universal service auctions.  
· The Data Division, which develops and implements best practices, processes, and standards for data management.  

“We are excited to have our new office up and running,” said Giulia McHenry, Acting Chief of OEA.  “This will be a single office to bring together the great economic and data work already being done by FCC staff.  We look forward to helping the Chairman, Commissioners, and other staff to ensure economics is a central consideration in our work.” 

Better integration of economic analysis into the FCC’s work has been one of Chairman Pai’s top priorities.  In April 2017, he proposed the idea of establishing a new office with this focus.  A staff-led working group then studied the idea and issued a report, which was incorporated into Commission’s final Order establishing the office.  Today, having received the required Congressional approvals and with formal notice in the Federal Register, the FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics is now up and running: https://www.fcc.gov/economics-and-analytics. 

###

Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500
ASL Videophone: (844) 432-2275
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @FCC
www.fcc.gov/media-relations  

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).