THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

oday's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Commissioners Praise Coronavirus Relief and Omnibus Funding Legislation, FCC Sets Invoice Deadline For COVID 19 Telehealth Program, FCC Performance Testing Waivers

FCC Commissioners Praise Coronavirus Relief and Omnibus Funding Legislation

Both FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel issued statements in response to the communications provisions in the new COVID relief and Omnibus funding bills.

FCC Chairman Pai said, in part:

“I applaud Congress for including in the coronavirus relief and omnibus funding legislation a number of provisions that advance critical national priorities in communications policy.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Urges Implementation of Direct Dialing From MLTS, FCC Extends Filing Deadline In ICS Case, North Carolina Broadband Grants

FCC Urges Implementation of Direct Dialing From MLTS

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai joined leaders of the Orleans Parish Communications District in their efforts to encourage local businesses to transition their phone systems to support direct-dial access to 911 from multi-line phones systems. 

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Welcomes Efforts on Wireless Emergency Alert Geo-Targeting, FCC Releases Paper on Positive Impact of Rural Broadband

FCC Welcomes Efforts on Wireless Emergency Alert Geo-Targeting

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai issued a statement praising the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), a standards organization, for its efforts to improve the geographic accuracy of Wireless Emergency Alerts. 

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Reminds Providers that Form 477 Mobile Speed and Coverage Data are not Confidential, FCC Further Extends E-Rate and RHC COVID-19 Rule Waivers, FCC Revises Consent Requirements For Calls From Government Contractors

FCC Reminds Providers that Form 477 Mobile Speed and Coverage Data are not Confidential

The FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics (Office) has reminded reminds mobile broadband service providers that their minimum advertised or expected speed data are no longer treated as confidential on FCC Form 477. As such, speed data will be included in the public releases of provider-specific coverage data, beginning with the December 2019 filing.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Issues Annual Report on State 911 Fees, FCC Adopts Rules to Secure Communications Networks and Supply Chain

FCC Issues Annual Report on State 911 Fees

The FCC released it's twelfth annual report to Congress on the collection and distribution of 911 fees by states.  The report finds that in 2019, states and territories collected more than $3 billion in 911 fees, and more than $200 million of that funding was diverted for uses other than 911. The report identifies five states—Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and West Virginia—where 911 fees were diverted for other purposes.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Reports to Congress on Efforts to Combat One-Ring Scams, Chairman Pai Statement On FCC Authorization Of First 6 GHz WI-FI Device, FCC ‘s Hospital Robocall Protection Group Adopts Best Practices Report on Preventing Unlawful Calls

FCC Reports to Congress on Efforts to Combat One-Ring Scams

As required by the section 12 of the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act of 2019 (TRACED Act), FCC Chairman Ajit Pai reported to Congress that it had concluded its required proceeding on one-ring scams by issuing a Report and Order adopting new rules to protect consumers.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC's O'Rielly Expresses Concern About Overbuilding, FCC Encourages Implementation of Network Reliability Practices, FCC Announces Final Agenda for December Meeting; Adds New Telecom Related Items

FCC’s O’Rielly Expresses Concern About Overbuilding

FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly sent a letter to Wyoming Governor Gordon expressing his concerns over potential use of CARES Act funding to overbuild existing broadband networks in the state.  He states that: “[s]everal Wyoming local fiber and cable-based broadband providers recently brought to my attention legitimate concerns that their high-speed broadband networks are likely to be overbuilt by competitors

Today's Regulatory Mix:    FCC Settles Outage Reporting Violation With $64K Penalty, FCC Approves NECA’s 2021 Annual Average Schedule HCLS Formula, Kansas Establishes Broadband Grant Program

FCC Settles Outage Reporting Violation With $64K Penalty

The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau released the terms of a settlement agreement with Logix Communications, LP. in order to resolve the Bureau’s investigation into whether it timely filed required network outage reporting violations.  As part of the settlement, the carrier admitted that it failed to timely file the required network outage reports, will implement a compliance plan to ensure future compliance, and will pay a $64,000 civil penalty.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC's Pai Announces Departure Date,  FCC Announces Results of 2021 Urban Rate Survey

FCC’s Pai Announces Departure Date

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced he intends to leave the Federal Communications Commission on January 20, 2021.  He issued a statement thanking his fellow Commissioners, FCC staff and his family, saying, in part:

Today's Regulatory Mix:  US Congress Urges FCC Action on Replacing Suspect Network Equipment, US Congress Requests Audit of Rural Broadband Pilot Program, FCC Announces Tentative December Agenda, FCC Quantum Internet Forum,  FCC Releases Memorandum on Use of Economics and Analytics in Rulemakings, Canada (CRTC) Announces Emergency Alert Test

 The Regulatory Mix will return on 12/1/2020. Happy Thanksgiving!

US Congress Urges FCC Action on Replacing Suspect Network Equipment

House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) and Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) wrote to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai urging him to assist companies as they prepare and plan to replace suspect network equipment, including companies eligible for reimbursement under the Secure and Trusted Reimbursement Program.