THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Approves First Six Telehealth Applications, Maryland Revises Rules for Originating Access Charges

FCC Approves First Six Telehealth Applications 

The FCC announced that it had approved six funding applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. Health care providers in some of the hardest hit areas like New York will use this $3.23 million in funding to provide telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  California to Hold Virtual Broadband Access Workshop, California Issues Proposed Decision Approving Sprint/T-Mo0. bile Merger; Sets 5G Network  Milestones, FTC Launches New Online Tools for Sharing Data About International Scams

California PUC to Hold Virtual Broadband Access Workshop 

The California PUC announced it would hold a virtual workshop on April 23, 2020, to consult with local governments, broadband providers, consumers, and other stakeholders on cost-effective strategies for expanding broadband access in unserved areas of the state. 

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FTC  Warns Service Providers Against "Assisting and Facilitating" Illegal Coronavirus-Related Telemarketing Calls, FCC Announces New COVID-19 Telehealth Program , FCC Home Network Tips for the Coronavirus Pandemic, FCC Supports Tribal Connectivity in New Mexico

FTC Warns Service Providers Against ‘Assisting and Facilitating’ Illegal Coronavirus-Related Telemarketing Calls 

In a press release, the FTC announced its staff sent letters to nine Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers and other companies warning them that “assisting and facilitating” illegal telemarketing or robocalls related to the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic is against the law.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  USDA Announces $28 Million Broadband Investment in Virginia, FCC Proposes over $200 Million in Fines for Wireless Location Data Violations, FCC Proposes Bidding Procedures for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction, FCC Seeks Comment on Cable Operator Recordkeeping Rules 

USDA Announces $28 Million Broadband Investment in Virginia 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Virginia Beth Green announced USDA has invested $28 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure for more than 17,000 rural households in Virginia.

US Congress Hearing on Digital Equity and Internet Adoption 

FTC Settles Robocall Complaint 

The FTC announced that three individuals and a telephone call center that helped Florida-based Grand Bahama Cruise Line LLC (GBCL) and others to make millions of illegal robocalls to consumers settled a Federal Trade Commission complaint and are permanently barred from making telemarketing robocalls.

Canada Combats Spoofed Calls; Works with FCC and Completes First Official Cross-Border Call Using SHAKEN/STIR 

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced it has taken further steps to combat caller ID spoofing and determine the origins of nuisance calls. The CRTC expects telecommunications service providers will implement STIR/SHAKEN by September 30, 2020.  This is the latest step in the CRTC’s broader efforts to combat nuisance and unsolicited calls.  In the past year, the CRTC has encouraged service providers to offer their customers call-filtering services that provide advanced call-management features.

USDA Announces Broadband Grant in North Carolina 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it has invested $23.7 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for nearly 8,750 rural households in North Carolina.  

US House Privacy Legislation 

• Establish Digital Privacy Agency (DPA), an independent agency led by a Director that would be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a five-year term. The DPA will enforce privacy protections and investigate abuses.  It would have funding for up to 1,600 employees and would be authorized to implementing adopt rules and issue fines for violations. 

U.S. and UK Strike Law Enforcement Data Access Agreement 

In a press release, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that the United States and the United Kingdom entered into the world’s first ever Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act (CLOUD Act) Agreement that will allow American and British law enforcement agencies, with appropriate authorization, to demand electronic data regarding serious crime, including terrorism, child sexual abuse, and cybercrime, directly from tech companies based in the other country, without legal barriers.