THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

Today's Regulatory Mix:  US House Report On Competition In the Digital Economy ,Nebraska Broadband Grants, Mississippi Proposes Fines For No Call Violations

US House Report On Competition In the Digital Economy

The House Judiciary Committee’s Antitrust Subcommittee released a report summarizing the findings of its investigation into the state of competition in the digital economy, especially the challenges presented by the dominance of Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook and their business practices.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  USDA Rural Broadband Grants In Arkansas, Indiana, and Wisconsin, FCC Biennial Report On CVAA, NTIA Digital Inclusion Webpage

USDA Rural Broadband Grants In Arkansas, Indiana, and Wisconsin

The USDA announced three new broadband grants.  In Arkansas, the USDA will invest $11.8 million to allow three providers to offer broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Arkansas.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Releases 2Q 2020 Adjustment Factors For Cable Operators, FCC’s Rosenworcel Releases New Podcast,  FCC and Rural Providers Collaborate on Broadband for Low-Income Students, USDA Broadband Funding in Mississippi

FCC Releases 2Q 2020 Adjustment Factors For Cable Operators

The FCC announced  the most recent inflation adjustment factors for rate-regulated cable operators. Operators filing FCC Form 1210 may make an annual adjustment based on inflation occurring from June 30 of the previous year to June 30 of the year in which the inflation adjustment is made.

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Eliminates Cable Operator Recordkeeping Rule, FCC Frees Spectrum in the 3.45-3.55 GHz Band for 5G, FCC Settles with Carriers that Failed to File 911 Reliability Certifications, Mississippi Requests FCC Audit of AT&T Internet Coverage Claims

FCC Eliminates Cable Operator Recordkeeping Rule

The FCC has adopted a Report and Order eliminating the requirement that cable operators maintain records in their online public inspection files regarding their interests in video programming services.  The Order also eliminates the related requirement that cable operators maintain in their online public inspection files information regarding their carriage of these services on cable systems they own.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Reforms IP Captioned Telephone Service Rates, FCC Revises Team Telecom Rules, FCC Fines Sandwich Isles Over $49 Million for Defrauding USF, US Congress COMPETE Act

FCC Reforms IP Captioned Telephone Service Rates

At its Open Meeting, the FCC voted to issue a Report and Order setting TRS Fund compensation rates for IP CTS at $1.42 per minute for the remainder of Fund Year 2020-21 (December 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021) and $1.30 per minute for Fund Year 2021-22 (July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022).  The rates, reduced from the current level of $1.58 per minute, will bring TRS Fund expenditures for IP CTS into line with current average costs and are expected to save the TRS Fund approximately $200 million through June 30, 2022.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  US Congress PHONE Act, FCC Adopts New Robocall Rules to Promote STIR/SHAKEN Implementation, FCC To Examine 911 Fee Diversion

US Congress PHONE Act

The House of Representatives passed, by voice vote, H.R. 1289, the "Preserving Home and Office Numbers in Emergencies Act of 2020" or "PHONE Act of 2020":   The Act prohibits providers of voice service from reassigning phone numbers of residential subscribers in areas subject to a major disaster declaration, for up to two years after the declaration. 

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Extends COVID-19 Telehealth Program Deadline, USDA Announces Broadband Funding For South Dakota and Wyoming

FCC Extends COVID-19 Telehealth Program Deadline

The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) has extended from September 30, 2020 to December 31, 2020, the deadline for COVID-19 Telehealth Program (COVID-19 Program) funding recipients to purchase eligible devices and implement eligible services. This extension provides COVID-19 Program funding recipients additional time to purchase eligible items to provide telehealth services to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Announces Availability of ICS Rate Database for Qualified Parties, Senate Passes SAFE WEB Act

FCC Announces Availability of ICS Rate Database for Qualified Parties

The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) and Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) announced the availability of the database developed by Commission staff for use in the FCC’s proceeding considering changes to its inmate calling service rate caps. Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 8/25/20.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FTC and DOJ Hart-Scott Rodino Act Changes, US Senate Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act, FCC And NARUC Urge Governors To Lower State ICS Rates

FTC and DOJ Hart-Scott Rodino Act Changes

The Federal Trade Commission, with the concurrence of the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding proposed changes to the rules and interpretations implementing the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act (HSR). 

Today's Regulatory Mix:  House Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Announces Hearing on Social Media’s Role in Online Extremism, Senator Asks AT&T to Halt Plans for Ad-subsidized Cell Phone Plans

House Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Announces Hearing on Social Media’s Role in Online Extremism

Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) announced that the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee will hold a fully remote hearing on September 24, 2020, on the growing prevalence of online extremism and social media’s role in its rapid spread.