THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FTC Announces New DNC Registry Fees,  FCC Further Extends Temporary Relay Services Waivers, FCC Successfully Concludes 5G Mid-Band Spectrum Auction

FTC Announces New DNC Registry Fees

The Federal Trade Commission has announced FY 2021 fees for telemarketers accessing phone numbers on the National Do-Not-Call (DNC) Registry.  The new fees become effective October 1, 2020.  Most FY 2021 Registry access fees will increase slightly based on the re-evaluation required by the Do‑Not‑Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007. 

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Form 477 Reminder, FCC Activates Disaster Information Reporting System

FCC Form 477 Reminder

The FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) has issued a Public Notice reminding all parties required to file Form 477 that the filing deadline for the Form 477 data as of June 30, 2020 is September 1, 2020.  Entities required to file the Form 477 include: facilities-based providers of broadband connections to end users, providers of wired or fixed wireless local exchange service, providers of interconnected VoIP service, and facilities-based providers of mobile voice service. 

Today's Regulatory Mix:  California Opens Small LEC Areas to CLEC Competition, USDA Announces Funding For Rural Broadband in Missouri

California Opens Small LEC Areas to CLEC Competition

The Public Utilities Commission of California (PUC) has opened the service territories of 13 Small Local Exchange Carriers (Small LECs) to wireline competition from CLECs.  CLECs seeking to compete in the service territories of the Small LECs must satisfy a modified version of the current local competition rules applicable to CLECs. 

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Announces Upcoming Forum on 5G Open Radio Access Networks, NTIA Internet Use Survey, NTIA Broadband USA Webinars

FCC Announces Upcoming Forum on 5G Open Radio Access Networks

In a news release, the FCC announced that the Forum on 5G Open Radio Access Networks will take place on September 14, 2020.  The forum, previously scheduled for March but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place by videoconference and stream online.

Today's Regulatory Mix: Court Upholds Most of FCC's Small Cell Orders, FCC Responds to Congress on COVID-19 Robocalls

Court Upholds Most of FCC’s Small Cell Orders

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the FCC’s 2018 Small Cell Orders (Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers see Briefings dated 8/22/18 and 10/24/18,) with the exception of the provision dealing with the authority of local governments in the area of aesthetic regulations. The panel vacated the portions of the order requiring that aesthetic regulations be “no more burdensome” than requirements applied to other infrastructure deployment, and the FCC’s requirement that all local aesthetic regulations be “objective,” and remanded them to the FCC.

Today's Regulatory Mix: Rosenworcel Releases New Podcast, US Senate Ensuring Network Security Act Introduced, US Senate ACCESS the Internet Act Introduced

Rosenworcel Releases New Podcast

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel announced the releases of a new episode of her podcast, Broadband Conversations, the podcast dedicated to amplifying the voices of women from across the technology, innovation and media sectors.  The latest episode featured Emily Ramshaw, Co-Founder and CEO of The 19th, a non-profit, nonpartisan news organization focused on reporting on women, policy, and politics.

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Releases Tropical Storm Isaias Communications Status Report, FCC's Pai on Freeing Up Spectrum for 5G, FCC Actions on Stage 2 of the Uniendo A Puerto Rico Fund and Connect USVI Funds

FCC Releases Tropical Storm Isaias Communications Status Report

The FCC released a report on the status of communications services in geographic areas impacted by Tropical Storm Isaias in Connecticut as of August 10, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. EST. This report incorporates network outage data submitted by communications providers to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS).

Today's Regulatory Mix: USDA Announces Funding for Oklahoma Broadband, FCC Eliminates Three Legacy TRS Rules, FCC Issues Ruling On Inmate Calling Service (ICS) Rates

USDA Announces Funding for Oklahoma Broadband

The USDA announced it is investing more than $29 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Oklahoma.  Specifically:

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Announces New Version of FCC Speed Test App and Release of Updated Mobile Raw Data, FCC Announces Additional CAF II Support Awards

FCC Announces New Version of FCC Speed Test App and Release of Updated Mobile Raw Data

In a press release, the FCC announced the release of an updated version of its FCC Speed Test app, continuing its commitment to ensure consumers have the tools and resources to evaluate how well their mobile broadband connections are performing.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Finalizes Agenda for August Meeting, USDA Announces Funding for Maryland Broadband

FCC Finalizes Agenda for August Meeting

The FCC announced the final agenda for its August 6, 2020 Open Meeting. It includes the following items:

• Inmate Calling Services – A Report and Order on Remand and a Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would respond to remands by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and propose to comprehensively reform rates and charges for the inmate calling services within the Commission’s jurisdiction.