THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

Today's Regulatory Mix:  California Sends Letter to ISPs Regarding Data Caps and Data Overage Charges, FCC Waives Access Arbitrage Rules, FCC Grants WISPS Temporary Access to Additional  5.9 GHz Spectrum, FCC Acts to Assist Rural Health Care Program Participants

California Sends Letter to ISPs Regarding Data Caps and Data Overage Charges

The California PUC has sent a letter to the top five largest wireless and top ten largest ISPs in the state asking  them to consider temporarily suspending data caps and data overage charges if they have not already done so.

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Launches Hospital Robocall Protection Group, Keep Americans Connected Pledge Signees Continues to Grow, FCC Revises Auction Schedules

FCC Launches Hospital Robocall Protection Group 

The FCC announced the formation of the Hospital Robocall Protection Group, a new federal advisory committee dedicated to combatting robocalls to hospitals. The group will focus on issuing best practices on how phone companies can better combat unlawful robocalls made to hospitals, as well as how hospitals can better protect themselves from such calls. Group was created as a result of the TRACED Act.  

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Announces March Open Meeting by Teleconference Due to COVID-19,  US House Energy and Commerce Leader Calls on Providers to Offer More Data for Mobile Hotspots During COVID-19, US Senate Keeping Critical Connections Act 

FCC Announces March Open Meeting By Teleconference Due to COVID-19 

The FCC announced that, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and related agency telework and headquarters access policies, its March 31, 2020, Open Meeting will be in a wholly electronic format and will be open to the public on the Internet via live feed from the FCC’s web page at www.fcc.gov/live and on the FCC’s YouTube channel. Because of these special circumstances, the items on the agenda (see below) are expected to be voted on circulation prior to the meeting. 

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Confirms That Community Use of E-Rate-Support Wi-Fi Networks is Permitted, FCC's Carr Praises Internet Providers' New Plans for Low-Income and Student Access, US Congress Secure 5G and Beyond and Broadband DATA Act

FCC Confirms That Community Use Of E-Rate-Supported Wi-Fi Networks Is Permitted 

The FCC confirmed that schools and libraries that are closed due to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak that they are permitted to allow the general public to use E-Rate-supported Wi-Fi networks while on the school’s campus or library property. Specifically, libraries may offer access to E-Rate funded services on their premises as well as services that are

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Cable Industry Pricing Report, FCC Commissioner Statement on Stay at Home Orders, FCC COVID-19 TCPA Declaratory Ruling 

FCC Cable Industry Pricing Report  

The FCC has directed  certain cable operators to respond to a price survey questionnaire designed to solicit information concerning rates for basic service, cable programming service, and equipment used to receive such services.   The information will be used for its statutorily required report on cable industry prices.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Announces More Companies Signed on to the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, FCC Issues Consumer Advisory On COVID-19 Scams, FCC Guidance On Non-US Banks Letters of Credit 

FCC Announces More Companies Signed on to the Keep Americans Connected Pledge 

The FCC announced that 205 additional broadband and phone service providers have taken the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, bringing the total number of companies to 390. By taking the Pledge, each of these companies has committed for the next 60 days to (1) not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic;

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Grants TRS Waivers in Light of COVID-19, FCC Waives E-Rate and RHC Gift Rules, FTC Outlines Response to COVID-19 

FCC Grants TRS Waivers in Light of COVID-19 

The FCC has granted Telecommunications Relay Service providers temporary waivers to better enable American Sign Language interpreters to work from home in order to maintain relay services during the current coronavirus pandemic for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind, or have a speech disability. 

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Announces More Companies Signed on to the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, FCC Rural Health Care Funding to Help With COVID-19, FCC Releases Form 477 Data 

FCC Announces More Companies Signed on to the Keep Americans Connected Pledge 

The FCC announced that 116 more broadband and telephone service providers have taken his Keep Americans Connected Pledge.  This means that 185 companies in total have now taken the Pledge.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Launches Keep Americans Connected Pledge, FCC E-Rate Filing Window Extended; Funding Caps Increased, Mississippi Charges Three Companies With No-Call Violations 

FCC Launches Keep Americans Connected Pledge

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced that multiple companies and trade associations had taken the “Keep Americans Connected Pledge” The pledge reads as follows:  

Given the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on American society, [[Company Name]] pledges for the next 60 days to:

Today's Regulatory Mix:  Bill to Protect American Networks from Suspect Foreign Equipment Becomes Law, FCC Responds to COVID-19, FCC Concludes Auction 103

Bill to Protect American Networks From Suspect Foreign Equipment Becomes Law 

The President signed into law the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (H.R. 4998) into law to help secure America’s telecommunications supply chain.  The bipartisan bill: