THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Names Robocall Traceback Manager, FCC Announces Price Cap Carrier CAF Phase II Election Deadline, FCC Announces Quite Period On USF Forbearance Petition

FCC Names Robocall Traceback Manager

The FCC announced it has designated USTelecom – the Broadband Association’s Industry Traceback Group as the official consortium for coordinating industry-led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls. The Industry Traceback Group is a collaborative group comprised of voice service providers across wireline, wireless, VoIP, and cable services.

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Clarification on Emergency COVID-19 Related Calls, FCC Agenda for Virtual Workshop on Role of Libraries in Advancing Broadband, USDA Announces Funding for North Carolina Broadband

FCC Clarification on Emergency COVID-19 Related Calls

The FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) confirmed that calls and text messages made by or on behalf of commercial labs, health insurers, physicians, and pharmacies (health care entities) that, pursuant to guidance from federal, state, or local government officials, communicate with individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 to provide them with information regarding donating their plasma after recovering,

Today's Regulatory Mix: NARUC Urges Review Of Intrastate Inmate Calling Rates, New DEPLOY Broadband Act Would Fund Rural Broadband Development, FCC Chairman Announces Progress on Addressing Diameter Network Security Issues

NARUC Urges Review of Intrastate Inmate Calling Rates

In a press release, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners said it agrees with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai on the issue of exorbitant inmate calling rates See the Regulatory Mix dated7/21/20 and is urging its member state commissions to review inmate calling rates in their respective jurisdictions.  NARUC President Presley said in part:

Today's Regulatory Mix: NARUC Resolution on ETCs, FCC Announces 5G Mid-Based Spectrum Auction, FCC Urban Rate Survey Released

NARUC Resolution on ETCs

At its Summer Policy Summit, the National Association Of Regulatory Utility Commissioners adopted a resolution urging Congress decline to pass a House bill that eliminates the State eligible telecommunications carrier (“ETC”) designation role.

Today's Regulatory Mix: FTC Testifies to Congress on COVID-19 Scams, FCC Seeks Comment for 2020 CVAA Biennial Report, FCC Reminds Cable and Satellite TV Operators of New Notice Requirements

FTC Testifies to Congress on COVID-19 Scams

The FTC announced that it recently testified before the Senate Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection on its efforts to combat scams and other consumer problems related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  The testimony, delivered by Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Andrew Smith, outlined the FTC’s efforts to protect consumers from scammers seeking to take advantage of the pandemic.

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Authorizes $20 Million for Rural Broadband, FCC Announces Counties With Conditional Forbearance from the Lifeline Voice Obligation, FCC's Pai Urges States to Address High Intrastate ICS Rates

FCC Authorizes $20 Million for Rural Broadband

The FCC announced over $20 million in funding over ten years to expand rural broadband in Minnesota and Pennsylvania.  Viasat will serve rural locations in Pennsylvania with $19,945,120 in FCC support, and Tribal provider Fond du Lac Communications, Inc. will receive $55,011 to provide gigabit fixed broadband to serve small, isolated communities in Tribal areas in Minnesota.

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for August Open Meeting, FCC to Modernize Service Priority Rules, FCC Announces Agreement on Wireless Infrastructure Builds

FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for August Open Meeting

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the tentative agenda for the FCC’s 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.

Today's Regulatory Mix: House Energy And Commerce Committee Telecom Bills, FCC Announces Carriers Electing BDS Incentive Regulation

House Energy and Commerce Committee Telecom Bills

The House Energy and Commerce Committee announced it advanced seven communications bills and one House resolution to the full House of Representatives by voice votes.  The legislation is as follows:

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Announces First Completed CAF II Project,  FCC Hospital Robocall Protection Group Named, USDA Announces Funding for Mississippi Broadband

FCC Announces First Completed CAF II Project

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement regarding Bloosurf, LLC, the first broadband provider to have its Connect America Fund Phase II auction buildout validated as complete by the Universal Service Administrative Company:

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Finalizes Agenda for July Meeting, FCC Announces Success Of 600 MHz band Spectrum Transition, US Congress National Broadband Plan for the Future Act

FCC Finalizes Agenda for July Meeting

The FCC announced the final agenda for its July 16, 2020 Open Meeting.