Today: FCC CAF II Webinar,  FCC September Open Meeting Agenda,  FCC Expands DIRS For Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Irma Status Report, FCC Updates Procedures For Providing Emergency Communications in Areas Affected by Irma 

 ** The Regulatory Mix will not be published on Monday, September 11, 2017 **

Due to Hurricane IRMA our offices will be closed

FCC CAF II Webinar Details

The FCC announced additional details in connection with its September 11, 2017, webinar on the Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II) auction process.  See the Regulatory Mix dated 9/5/17.  The web address, login, and dial-in information can be found here.   During the event, those watching the live video stream of the event may email questions to auction903@fcc.gov. After the event, a recording of the workshop will be available for streaming from the event page and the email address will remain available for questions.  Participation in the webinar is not a pre-requisite for participating in the proceeding or for applying to bid in the auction, but the FCC strongly encourages potential applicants to view the event.

FCC September Open Meeting Agenda Announced

The FCC announced the items that are tentatively on the agenda for its September 26, 2017, Open Meeting.  They are as follows:

• Revisions to Reporting Requirements Governing Hearing Aid-Compatible Mobile Handsets –  A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on revisions to the wireless hearing aid compatibility annual reporting requirement to provide relief to non-nationwide service providers.
• Toll Free Assignment Modernization – A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to amend the Commission’s rules to allow for use of auctions to assign certain toll free numbers and considers other means by which to modernize the administration and assignment of toll free numbers.
• 911 Access, Routing, and Location in Enterprise Communications Systems – A Notice of Inquiry that seeks comment on the provision of 911 by enterprise communications systems that serve businesses, hotels, educational institutions, and government entities. The NOI seeks comment on the capabilities of these systems to support direct calling to 911, routing to the appropriate 911 call center, and transmission of the caller’s location information, as well as to ensure that the 911 capabilities of these systems keep pace with technological developments and public expectations.
• 20th Mobile Wireless Competition Report –  A Report analyzing the state of competition in the mobile wireless industry.
• Amendment of Parts 74, 76 and 78 of the Commission’s Rules Regarding Maintenance of Copies of FCC Rules –  A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to eliminate rules requiring certain broadcast and cable entities to maintain paper copies of FCC rules.
• Cable Television Technical and Operational Standards – A Report and Order that modernizes its cable television technical rules to reflect the cable industry’s use of digital transmission systems.
• Revitalization of the AM Radio Service – A Third Report and Order that will relax or eliminate certain rules pertaining to AM broadcasters employing and maintaining directional antenna arrays.
• Updating Rules for Non-Geostationary Satellites in the Fixed-Satellite Service – A Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that recommends updating and streamlining the Commission’s rules to facilitate the licensing of the next generation of non-geostationary, fixed-satellite service systems.

FCC Released Hurricane Irma Status Report

The FCC released its first status report on communications services in geographic areas impacted by Hurricane Irma as of September 7, 2017, at 11:00 p.m. EDT.  The report incorporates network outage data submitted by communications providers to the FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) for the initial 44 counties in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.  The report indicates that: (1) there were a total of 4 PSAPs affected by the storm, 2 operational without ALI and two operational without both ALI and ANI; (2) 55.2% of the cell sites in the affected area were out of service with most counties reporting more than 50% of their cells sites down; (3) there are “large percentages” of consumers without either cable or wireline service; and (4) based on the limited input into DIRS, there are no broadcast stations reported out of service.

FCC Expands DIRS For Hurricane Irma

The FCC has extended its data collection under DIRS to include all counties within Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.  Accordingly, the following counties are now covered:

• Puerto Rico: Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
• US Virgin Islands: St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas 

Reports are requested beginning at 10:00 a.m. on September 8, 2017, and every day after that by 10:00 a.m. until DIRS is deactivated.

FCC Updates Procedures For Providing Emergency Communications in Areas Affected by Irma

The FCC has updated its previously-issued guidance See the Regulatory Mix dated 9/6/17 concerning applications for special temporary authority and providing International Bureau, Media Bureau, Wireline Competition Bureau, and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contacts during and after business hours.  The procedures are intended to help communications services initiate, resume, and maintain operations in the areas affected by Hurricane Irma.

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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.