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 Briefing.
TELECOM
US Congress
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a hearing on October 7, 2015, on “Improving Federal Spectrum Systems.” The hearing will examine spectrum needs in the 21st century with a review of the federal government’s allocations and uses of our nation’s airways. Members will examine the Federal Spectrum Incentive Act, authored by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Doris Matsui (D-CA). This bill works to provide financial incentives for federal users to improve government systems and increase efficiency. More information is available here.
FCC
Smartphone Anti-theft Commitments
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler issued a statement in response to CTIA-The Wireless Association’s new, enhanced effort to help consumers combat stolen smart devices and protect personal information. He said, in part: “Their enhanced voluntary commitment to adopt anti-theft features and educate consumers demonstrates their resolve in combating it. I am encouraged that the industry has taken action in response to the recommendations recently submitted by the FCC Technical Advisory Committee’s stolen phones working group, and I am hopeful that this new voluntary commitment will make a meaningful difference for consumer safety.” The new CTIA effort updates the Smartphone Anti-Theft Voluntary Commitment and encourages the widespread adoption of anti-theft tools, which will be made available on all smartphones at no cost to U.S. consumers, as of July 2016. The updates are in section B part I, which promotes the widest possible adoption of anti-theft tools while respecting the importance of consumer choice and privacy. In addition, CTIA developed a list of apps to locate, erase and/or lock, many of which are free, for the various operating systems.
Cognitive Disabilities Summit
The FCC announced it will hold a Cognitive Disabilities Summit on Wednesday, October 28, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The meeting will be open to the public and webcast with open captioning at www.fcc.gov/live. The summit will facilitate discussion of the telecommunication needs of people with cognitive disabilities and effective means of meeting those needs. Panels will include: Communication Technologies for Independent Living; Emergency Preparedness/Living in the Community; and Ensuring and Funding Access to Equipment, Training and Broadband. An Expo of vendors and distributors of assistive technologies will be held during the Summit.