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
FCC
The following items were adopted at the FCC’s January 28, 2016, Open Meeting:
Broadband Progress Report
The FCC’s 2016 Broadband Progress Report concludes that while there has been significant progress in broadband deployment, broadband is not being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion. According to the Public Notice, the report found that:
The report also determines that today’s communications landscape requires access to both fixed and mobile broadband services, which offer both distinct and complementary functions. However, because the FCC has not yet established a mobile speed benchmark, deployment of mobility is not reflected in the current assessment. For the first time, the report also includes data for satellite broadband services. The report concludes that no satellite broadband service met the 25/3 Mbps speed benchmark during the reporting period.
Cable Public File Requirements
The FCC adopted rules to require cable operators, satellite television (DBS) providers, and broadcast radio and satellite radio licensees to post their public and political files to the FCC’s online public inspection file database. The Order extends the online public file requirement adopted for broadcast television licensees in 2012 to these additional entities and include a number of measures to minimize the effort and cost associated with moving the public files online. Among other things, the rules:
Emergency Alert System
The FCC proposed rules to strengthen the Emergency Alert System (EAS), the national public warning system through which broadcasters, cable television providers, and other participants deliver emergency information, such as weather alerts, to Americans. The rules include proposals to:
The Notice also seeks comment on other issues including:
California
The PUC signed an order that extends the Right-of-Way (ROW) rules to Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) carriers. The PUC said that providing CMRS providers with nondiscriminatory access to public utility infrastructure will “facilitate investment in wireless infrastructure, encourage widespread deployment of broadband wireless services, foster the provision of wireless service in previously unserved areas, and improve access to 911.” Amendments were made to General Order 95 to ensure that CMRS pole installations are safe. The signed Decision has not yet been posted by the PUC (D.16-01-046 in R.14-05-001).