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.

FCC

Comments on the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the matter of transition from TTY to Real-Time Text Technology are due on July 11, 2016.  Reply comments are due by July 25, 2016.  The rules are intended to facilitate a transition from text telephone (TTY) technology to a reliable and interoperable means of providing real-time text (RTT) communication for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, speech disabled, and deaf-blind over Internet Protocol enabled network and services.  Among other things, the FCC proposes to amend its rules governing the obligations of wireless service providers and equipment manufacturers to support TTY technology with rules defining the obligations of these entities to support RTT over IP-based wireless voice services.  Click here for the FCC’s NPRM.

Colorado 

The PUC opened a rulemaking to amend the TRS rules in order to implement statutory changes effective September 1, 2016.  TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 7/5/16.  The PUC previously adopted emergency TRS rules in order to implement statutory changes that require all voice service providers to assess customers a monthly surcharge to fund the Colorado Telephone Users with Disabilities Fund.  TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefings dated 6/27, 6/16, & 5/20/16.

Michigan

The MPSC approved a settlement agreement ordering CMC Telecom, Inc. to pay a $15,000 penalty in six equal monthly installments.  On April 14, 2016, the MPSC issued an order finding the company failed to provide its customers with telecommunications relay service (TRS) and found it to be in violation of the Michigan Telecommunications Act and the MPSC’s 2014 order.  TRS allows people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or are speech impaired to place phone calls via a keyboard or assistive device.

Washington

The Commission will hold an Adoption Hearing on July 18, 2016, to consider amending, adopting, and repealing certain rules in WAC 480-120 relating to the Washington Telephone Assistance Program and Washington Exchange Carrier Association, and repair standards for planned service interruptions and impairments.  TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 5/25/16.