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. 

North American Numbering Council (NANC)

The next meeting of the NANC will be held on June 30, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  The meeting will be held at the FCC, Portals II, 445 Twelfth Street, SW, Room TW-C305, Washington, DC 20554.

FCC

The FCC released a Fact Sheet on Spectrum Frontiers Proposal To Identify, Open Up Vast Amounts Of New High-Band Spectrum For Next Generation (5g) Wireless Broadband.  Chairman Wheeler circulated rules that, if adopted, would identify and open up the high frequency airwaves known as millimeter wave spectrum.  The rules would set in motion the United States’ rapid advancement to next-generation 5G networks and technologies.  They would open up almost 11 GHz of spectrum for flexible use wireless broadband - 3.85 GHz of licensed spectrum and 7 GHz of unlicensed spectrum.  The Report & Order will open up new spectrum for licensed, unlicensed, and shared use.  It will create a new Upper Microwave Flexible Use service in the 28 GHz (27.5-28.35 GHz), 37 GHz (37-38.6 GHz), and 39 GHz (38.6-40 GHz) bands, and an unlicensed band at 64-71 GHz.  The Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will also develop additional rules to finalize the regulatory scheme, including detailed questions on the federal/commercial sharing regime in 37 GHz; how to structure a machine-to-machine performance requirement; how to structure a use-it-or-share-it performance requirement; various refinements and clarifications to our technical rules; and details of implementing the new spectrum aggregation limit, the appropriate holding period, and how to apply the policies to FNPRM bands.  The item is schedule for vote on July 14th. 

North Carolina    

The Governor announces a new State Broadband Plan designed to increase internet access, focusing on lowering infrastructure construction costs, preparing a 21st century workforce, increasing small business adoption, and expanding access for K-12 students at home.

"We have made significant progress to improve North Carolina's broadband infrastructure and increase access for affordable high-speed internet, especially for small businesses and in our classrooms," said Governor McCrory. "This plan will build on our progress and further position North Carolina as a leader in ensuring that our infrastructure meets our growing demand."

CRTC

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with ten enforcement agencies from across the globe to fight unlawful spam and unsolicited telecommunications.  The other agencies are:

• The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
• The United States’ Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission
• The Australian Communications and Media Authority
• The Netherlands’ Authority for Consumers & Markets
• The United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office and National Trading Standards Intelligence Team
• The Korea Internet & Security Agency
• The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs
• The South Africa National Consumer Commission

The agreement promotes cooperation between the CRTC and its international counterparts in enforcing Canadian and international spam and unsolicited telecommunications laws.  The agencies have committed to sharing information and intelligence, where permitted by the laws of its jurisdiction, regarding unsolicited communications.

HAPPY BRING YOUR DOG TO WORK DAY!