THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

Posted by Fran Martens on 9/1/15 11:35 AM

The Regulatory Mix

The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of a TMI Regulatory Bulletin.

TELECOM

FCC

Reminder:  Certain FCC Databases will be unavailable (and filing deadlines will be extended) from 6 p.m. EDT September 2, 2015, until 8 a.m. EDT September 8, 2015. See the Regulatory Mix dated 8/24/15 or click here for FCC Public Notice.    (Note; the Form 477 filing interface will be unavailable from 6 a.m. EDT September 2, 2015, until 7 a.m. September 9, 2015, due to the FCC”s IT system upgrades.)

FCC

The FCC is seeking comments on three petitions filed seeking a waiver of §64.1200(a)(4)(iv) of the FCC’s rules, which requires that an opt-out notice containing certain information be included in fax ads sent to a consumer who has provided prior express invitation or permission.  The rules specify that the opt-out notice contained in fax ads must: (1) be clear and conspicuous and on the first page of the ad; (2) state that the recipient may make a request to the sender not to send any future ads and that failure to comply, within 30 days, with a request is unlawful; and (3) contain a domestic contact telephone number and fax number for the recipient to transmit an opt-out request.  If neither the required telephone number nor fax number is a toll-free number, a separate cost-free mechanism, including a Web site address or email address, must be provided for a recipient to transmit a request to opt-out of future faxes.  The Petitioners seek retroactive waivers of the opt-out notice requirement for fax ads they sent where prior express invitation or permission allegedly had been obtained from the recipient.  Comments are due no later than 9/11/15; reply comments are due 9/18/15.

Iowa 

In an August 31, 2015, press release Gov. Terry Branstad praised CenturyLink, Windstream, Frontier, and Consolidated Communications for choosing to implement broadband internet expansion using grants from the FCC’s Connect America Fund (CAF).  “In Iowa, technology and access to broadband Internet is the great equalizer for our rural communities,” said Branstad.  “We have put a focus on broadband Internet expansion because if our small businesses are to compete in a global economy, our schools are to have access to an abundance of online learning resources and our farmers are to connect their modern equipment for precision farming, we must connect every acre with broadband infrastructure.  Click here for full press release. 

Michigan

The PSC issued a Notice of Opportunity to Comment on an application filed by Comcast Phone for approval to amend the geographic scope of its license to provide basic local exchange service.  Comcast requests authority to expand its existing Michigan local exchange territory to include service throughout the State of Michigan.  Comcast will issue notice of its request by September 14, 2015.  Written and electronic comments may be filed with the PSC no later than 9/28/15.

 

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Topics: FCC, The Regulatory Mix, Michigan, Iowa, CAF, Comcast, 477, broadband internet

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Posted by Fran Martens on 9/1/15 11:35 AM

The Regulatory Mix

The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of a TMI Regulatory Bulletin.

TELECOM

FCC

Reminder:  Certain FCC Databases will be unavailable (and filing deadlines will be extended) from 6 p.m. EDT September 2, 2015, until 8 a.m. EDT September 8, 2015. See the Regulatory Mix dated 8/24/15 or click here for FCC Public Notice.    (Note; the Form 477 filing interface will be unavailable from 6 a.m. EDT September 2, 2015, until 7 a.m. September 9, 2015, due to the FCC”s IT system upgrades.)

FCC

The FCC is seeking comments on three petitions filed seeking a waiver of §64.1200(a)(4)(iv) of the FCC’s rules, which requires that an opt-out notice containing certain information be included in fax ads sent to a consumer who has provided prior express invitation or permission.  The rules specify that the opt-out notice contained in fax ads must: (1) be clear and conspicuous and on the first page of the ad; (2) state that the recipient may make a request to the sender not to send any future ads and that failure to comply, within 30 days, with a request is unlawful; and (3) contain a domestic contact telephone number and fax number for the recipient to transmit an opt-out request.  If neither the required telephone number nor fax number is a toll-free number, a separate cost-free mechanism, including a Web site address or email address, must be provided for a recipient to transmit a request to opt-out of future faxes.  The Petitioners seek retroactive waivers of the opt-out notice requirement for fax ads they sent where prior express invitation or permission allegedly had been obtained from the recipient.  Comments are due no later than 9/11/15; reply comments are due 9/18/15.

Iowa 

In an August 31, 2015, press release Gov. Terry Branstad praised CenturyLink, Windstream, Frontier, and Consolidated Communications for choosing to implement broadband internet expansion using grants from the FCC’s Connect America Fund (CAF).  “In Iowa, technology and access to broadband Internet is the great equalizer for our rural communities,” said Branstad.  “We have put a focus on broadband Internet expansion because if our small businesses are to compete in a global economy, our schools are to have access to an abundance of online learning resources and our farmers are to connect their modern equipment for precision farming, we must connect every acre with broadband infrastructure.  Click here for full press release. 

Michigan

The PSC issued a Notice of Opportunity to Comment on an application filed by Comcast Phone for approval to amend the geographic scope of its license to provide basic local exchange service.  Comcast requests authority to expand its existing Michigan local exchange territory to include service throughout the State of Michigan.  Comcast will issue notice of its request by September 14, 2015.  Written and electronic comments may be filed with the PSC no later than 9/28/15.

 

Download a Snapshot of the Customer Rules Database

 

Download the FREE Sample VoIP PRO Report

 

Explore TMI's  Online Store

 

 

 

Topics: FCC, The Regulatory Mix, Michigan, Iowa, CAF, Comcast, 477, broadband internet

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