Today:  FCC Open Meeting Agenda for March, Pennsylvania Reminds Residents of New 445 Area Code, US Congress Announces Bill on FCC Reauthorization and Wireless Deployment

FCC Agenda For March Meeting

The FCC announced  the tentative agenda for its March 22, 2018, Open Meeting.  The following items will be considered:

• Wireless Infrastructure Streamlining:  A Second Report and Order that would clarify and modify the procedures for NHPA and NEPA review of wireless infrastructure deployments.
• Reassigned Numbers Database:  A Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to address the problem of unwanted calls to reassigned numbers.
• Location-Based Routing for 911 Calls:  A Notice of Inquiry examining location-based routing of wireless 911 calls to ensure that calls are routed to the proper 911 call center.
• 4.9 GHz Band: A Sixth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to stimulate use of and investment in the 4.9 GHz band.
• Streamlining Television Satellite Station Reauthorization: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to streamline the reauthorization process for television satellite stations that are assigned or transferred in combination with a previously approved parent station.
• Consumer Signal Boosters: A Second Report and Order that would remove the personal use restriction for Provider-Specific Consumer Signal Boosters and a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on ways to further expand access to Consumer Signal Boosters.

Watch for #CheckingIn@TheFCC from Inteserra next week!

Pennsylvania Reminds Residents of New 445 Area Code

The Public Utility Commission of Pennsylvania (PUC) has issued a press release urging residents to take steps to prepare for the new “445” area code.  The new area code is being placed into service because the remaining supply of numbers in the current 215/267 area codes is nearly exhausted. 

According to the petition from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), the dialing plan for the area code will remain the same:

• Local & Toll Calls to and from other numbers inside the 215/267/445 area:  Dial 10-digits.
• Local & Toll Calls from the 215/267/445 area to numbers in another area code:  Dial 1 + 10-Digits.
• Operator Services (credit card, collect, third party): Dial 0 + 10-Digits

Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 12/28/16.

US Congress Announces Bill on FCC Reauthorization and Wireless Deployment

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD), and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) announced a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on legislation reauthorizing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and spurring the deployment of next-generation wireless services.  The legislation, RAY BABAUM’S Act (H.R. 4986), will be voted on in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 6, 2018.

The legislation would:

• Reauthorize the FCC and include reforms to ensure the commission continues to improve its efficiency and transparency.
• Direct the FCC to craft a national policy for unlicensed spectrum that includes certain specific considerations and recommendations.
• Advance proposals that would help the FCC and law enforcement protect consumers from fraudulent telephone calls, and to educate Americans about their options to stop these illegal calls.
• Enact key provisions from the Senate-approved MOBILE NOW Act (S. 19) to boost the development of next-generation 5G wireless broadband by identifying more spectrum – both licensed and unlicensed – for private sector use and reducing the red tape associated with building wireless networks.
• Authorize a repack fund to address the shortfall in funding available to relocate broadcasters being displaced following the successful Incentive Auction, and set up new relocation funds for translators, low-power television, and radio stations that will be impacted by the repack – supplemented by a consumer education fund.
• Include a spectrum auction deposit “fix” which allows the FCC to deposit upfront payments from spectrum bidders directly with the U.S. Treasury.

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’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 an Inteserra Briefing.