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  

Commissioner Michael O’Rielly issued a statement regarding D.C. Circuit Decision on FCC’s net neutrality Rules. 

“The D.C. Circuit’s decision is more than disappointing, but I expect it to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court so this opinion is not necessarily the final say. If allowed to stand, however, today’s decision will be extremely detrimental to the future of the Internet and all consumers and businesses that use it. We all will rue the day the Commission was confirmed to have nearly unmitigated power over the Internet -- and all based on unsubstantiated, imaginary “harms.” 

More troubling is that the majority opinion fails to apprehend the workings of the Internet, and declines to hold the FCC accountable for an order that ran roughshod over the statute, precedent, and any comments or analyses that did not support the FCC’s quest to deliver a political victory. It also confirms why every parliamentary trick in Congress was used to pack this particular court.”

 California

The PUC’s ALJ notified parties that representatives of Sprint and AT&T are scheduled to take part in a public panel on special access (now known as Business Data Services) organized by Commissioner Sandoval at the upcoming meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners in Nashville, TN between July 24, 2016 and July 27, 2016. 

Canada

            CRTC

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) launched processes to add new area codes in the regions currently served by:

• 236, 250, 604 and 778 in British Columbia;
• 418 and 581 in Quebec;
• 506 in New Brunswick; and
• 709 in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Since New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador currently have 7-digit local dialing, the introduction of new area codes in these provinces will require a transition to 10-digit local dialing.  The CRTC is establishing relief planning committees to evaluate various options and make recommendations.  Those interested in participating in these processes can contact the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) by telephone at 613-563-7242 or visit www.cnac.ca.