Today's Regulatory Mix: California Extends Moratorium on Disconnect for Non-Payment and Imposition of Late Fees, FCC Announces Effective Date of New Broadcast Media Internet Rules, FCC Seeks comment on Wireless Service Providers' Safety Measures

California Extends Moratorium on Disconnects for Non-Payment and Imposition of Late Fees 

The Executive Director of the Public Utilities Commission of California (PUC) has extended Resolution M-4848 which prohibits communications service providers from disconnecting voice services for non-payment and from imposing fees for late payment. Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 3/24/21 

FCC Announces Effective Date of New Broadcast Media Internet Rules 

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice announcing the effective date of new broadcast media internet rules.  

On December 10, 2020, the FCC released a Report and Order in its proceeding to encourage the provision of new and innovative Broadcast Internet services enabled by ATSC 3.0 — the “Next Generation” broadcast television standard often referred to as Next Gen TV — that can complement the nation’s 5G wireless networks. The rule revisions clarify and update the regulatory landscape in order to foster the efficient and robust use of broadcast spectrum capacity for the provision of Broadcast Internet services consistent with statutory directives. 

FCC Seeks Comment on Wireless Service Providers’ Safety Measures 

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announced that it is seeking comment on recent efforts by mobile wireless service providers to improve network resiliency in order to inform a report to Congress, as contemplated by the Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (Act). The Explanatory Statement accompanying the Act expressed “concer[n] about the resiliency of wireless phone networks during natural disasters, including wildfires,” and sought a report from the Commission “on the type of safety measures wireless carriers have for their customers,” within 180 days of enactment, or by June 25, 2021. 

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s 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.