The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of telecom related 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.
FTC AT&T Cramming Refunds
The Federal Trade Commission announced it is providing over $88 million in refunds to more than 2.7 million AT&T customers who had third-party charges added to their mobile bills without their consent, a tactic known as “mobile cramming.” The refunds to consumers relate to 2014 settlements with AT&T, and the companies behind two of the cramming schemes, Tatto and Acquinity. According to the FTC, the refunds represent the most money ever returned to consumers in a mobile cramming case. Through the FTC’s refund program, nearly 2.5 million current AT&T customers will receive a credit on their bill within the next 75 days, and more than 300,000 former customers will receive a check. The average refund amount is $31.
FCC-Mexico Agreement on Positive Train Control
The FCC announced it had successfully completed negotiation of a protocol with the Mexican government that will facilitate U.S. railroads' deployment and operation of Positive Train Control technology in the 220-222 MHz band along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Protocol is available here. A similar agreement has been executed between the FCC and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development of Canada covering the U.S./Canada border region. That agreement is available here.
FCC Open Meeting Agenda - December
The FCC announced the tentative agenda for its December 15, 2016, Open Meeting. The items are as follows:
- Transition from TTY to Real-Time Text Technology: A Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to help achieve the transition from TTY technology to a reliable and interoperable means of providing real-time text communication over wireless Internet protocol-enabled networks and services.
- Improving the Nation’s Public Alert and Warning Systems: A Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to enhance the Emergency Alert System (EAS) as a tool for community emergency preparedness. The Report and Order improves alerting organization at the state and local levels, builds stronger community-based alerting exercise programs, and protects the EAS against accidental misuse and malicious intrusion. The Further Notice seeks comment on proposals to leverage technological advances to improve alerting and additional measures to preserve EAS security.
- Non-geostationary, Fixed-Satellite Service Systems and Related Matters: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to update, clarify, and streamline the FCC’s rules to facilitate the deployment of recently proposed non-geostationary-satellite orbit, fixed-satellite service satellite systems.
- Freedom of Information Act: An order that updates the FCC’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations consistent with the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016.
- Maritime Communications: An Order on Reconsideration and Memorandum Opinion and Order regarding the assignment of licenses held by Maritime Communications/Land Mobile, LLC.
- Improving the Resiliency of Mobile Wireless Communications Networks: An Order that evaluates the Wireless Network Resiliency Cooperative Framework submitted by members of the wireless industry.
- Preferred Long Distance, Inc.: A Memorandum Opinion and Order that addresses a Petition for Reconsideration of a Forfeiture Order issued by the Commission for slamming and deceptive marketing.
The agenda also includes five consent items.
