New York Seeks Comment On Charter Progress
The PSC seeks comment on the proposed settlement between Charter Communications, Inc., and the DPS intended to resolve Charter’s failure to meet network build-out requirements established when Charter acquired Time Warner Cable. The PSC also asks whether it should adopt a rulemaking amending the going-forward interim targets for extending Charter’s network. Click here to read the Notice Seeking Comments dated July 5, 2017. Comments are due by August 21, 2017.
In lieu of a potential penalty for missing its build-out target, Charter agreed to pay $1 million in grants for equipment to provide computer and Internet access to low-income users and to set aside $12 million as security to meet its network expansion commitment going forward. On July 3, 2017, Charter filed a complaint against National Grid USA Service Company due to its refusal to provide access to poles. The complaint states that National Grid’s “actions have frustrated Charter’s ability to meet the initial milestone in the Commission-imposed build-out condition to expand the availability of broadband in New York.”
FTC Supports FCC Initiatives to Allow Providers to Block More Illegal Calls
The FTC expressed support for the FCC’s efforts to enable telecommunications providers to engage in call blocking at the network level to protect consumers from illegal calls. The FTC submitted its comment in response to an FCC notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) seeking input on rulemaking proposals that would authorize two categories of provider-based call blocking: 1) when the subscriber to a particular telephone number requests that telecommunications providers block calls originating from that number; and 2) when the originating number is invalid, unallocated, or unassigned. The FTC supports the NPRM’s proposed expansion of provider-based call-blocking authority to stop calls in these two categories. In addition to support, the FTC comment also provides specific ideas the FCC may wish to consider during the rulemaking process. The comment highlights that the problem of illegal calls is broader than “illegal robocalls” and includes calls made by a live operator that are abusive, fraudulent, or unlawful. The FTC encourages the FCC to clarify that its efforts are intended to allow blocking of all “illegal calls” -- not just robocalls. Click here for text of the FTC’s comment.
FCC July Open Meeting Agenda
The FCC announced the final agenda for its July 13, 2017, Open Meeting, which the Chairman has dubbed Consumer Protection Month at the FCC. As expected, the agenda includes the following items:
The agenda also includes items addressing the FCC’s equipment authorization program, use of the radar services band, and wireless microphone operations, as well as an unspecified enforcement action.
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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.