Today:  FCC November Open Meeting, FCC’s Carr On Wireless Resiliency, CRTC Announces Future Action Addressing ISP Complaints 

FCC November Open Meeting

The FCC announced  the final agenda for its November 15, 2018, Open Meeting, which the Chairman has dubbed “Space Month.” The only non-space related item on the agenda relates to the FCC’s Wireless Hearing Aid Compatibility requirements. 

• Hearing Aid Compatible Mobile Handsets:  A Report and Order that would replace requirements for wireless service providers to report annually on their offerings of hearing aid-compatible handsets with a requirement to provide enhanced information on their websites and to certify annually whether providers are in full compliance with the hearing aid compatibility rules.  
• Galileo Order:  An Order that addresses waivers of certain satellite licensing requirements for receive-only earth stations operating with the Galileo Radionavigation-Satellite Service.
• Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space Age:  A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing comprehensive updates to the FCC’s orbital debris rules for all FCC-authorized satellites.
• Facilitating Satellite Earth Stations in Motion: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing rules to facilitate the deployment of non-geostationary-orbit (NGSO) fixed-satellite service earth stations that transmit while in motion.
• SpaceX V-Band Authorization: A Memorandum Opinion, Order and Authorization that would grant SpaceX’s request to deploy and operate a proposed non-geostationary constellation to provide broadband services around the world.
• Kepler Communications Market Access Request:  An Order and Declaratory Ruling that would grant Kepler’s request for U.S. market access to offer global connectivity for the Internet of Things using a proposed constellation of non-geostationary orbit satellites.
• Telesat V-Band Market Access Request:  An Order and Declaratory Ruling that would grant Telesat’s request to access the U.S. market to provide broadband services using a proposed constellation of non-geostationary orbit satellites.
• LeoSat Market Access Request:  An Order and Declaratory Ruling that would grant LeoSat’s request for U.S. market access to provide satellite broadband services in the United States using a proposed constellation of non-geostationary orbit satellites, including high-speed connectivity for enterprises.
• Further Streamlining of Satellite Regulations: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing additional streamlining of space and earth station licensing rules.
• Updating and Streamlining Rules for the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service:  A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to align the DBS licensing procedures with those of the geostationary fixed-satellite service.
• Electronic Delivery of MVPD Communications:  A Report and Order that would modernize certain consumer notice provisions in Part 76 of the FCC’s Rules governing multichannel video and cable television service.

FCC’s Carr On Wireless Resiliency

FCC Commissioner Carr issued a statement in support of Chairman Pai’s decision to review the FCC’s 2016 Wireless Resiliency Cooperative Framework.  See the Regulatory Mix dated 11/7/18.  Carr said:  “Based on what I saw and experienced in the Florida Panhandle last week, reviewing our wireless resiliency framework is the right step. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Michael, thousands of power company crews and contractors worked to restore power, which, unfortunately, often resulted in significant cuts to fiber and other communication lines. In many cases, better cooperation could have kept both the power and fiber lines intact, for example, by detaching fiber lines from poles and leaving them on the ground, rather than cutting them clean off the damaged poles. There are lessons to be learned from Hurricane Michael, and I look forward to engaging with the working group on disaster response and recovery to better plan for future events.”

CRTC Announces Future Action Addressing ISP Complaints

The CRTC in Canada announced that it will be taking action to address what it calls “increasing complaints about Internet services.”  Canadians are invited to share their views on the creation of a mandatory code of conduct for Internet service providers.  The Internet Code would, among other things, establish consumer-friendly business practices, ensure contracts are easy-to-understand, and make it easier for Canadians to switch providers to take advantage of competitive offers. 

____________________________

 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.