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.

The Regulatory Mix will be on hiatus Wednesday, 11/23/16, through Monday, 11/28/16, in observance of Thanksgiving

FCC and CRTC Robocall Agreement

The FCC announced a formal agreement with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, committing the two agencies to work together to combat unlawful robocalls.  Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the two agencies agree to cooperate on enforcement matters related to unlawful robocalls and caller ID spoofing. These agencies have also committed to exchange information about investigations and complaints, share knowledge and expertise, provide information about legal theories and economic analysis, keep each other abreast of significant legal developments, and provide other appropriate assistance. Earlier this year, the FCC signed a similar agreement with the Unsolicited Communications Enforcement Network (formerly the London Action Plan). This coalition coordinates and promotes international cooperation and activities targeting unlawful communications like robocall and robotext scams.

FCC Windstream-Earthlink Transfer of Control

Windstream Holdings, Inc. and Earthlink Holdings Corp. have requested FCC consent to transfer control of certain international and domestic Section 214 authorizations held by various EarthLink wholly-owned subsidiaries to Windstream. See complete document here.

North Carolina Link-Up Rule

The North Carolina Utilities Commission revised its Link Up rule to mirror recent changes to the federal Lifeline rules. In September 2016 the Commission requested comments and proposed revisions to Commission Rule R9-6.  TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 11/17/16.