Today:  FCC Communications Marketplace Report, FCC Broadband Conversations Podcast, FCC’s Carr Congratulates Michigan on Small Cell Bill Enactment, Maine Announces Text to 911 Availability  

FCC Communications Marketplace Report 

At its December Open Meeting, the FCC voted to adopt its first Communications Marketplace Report, which provides a comprehensive evaluation of the state of the communications marketplace.  The report is required by legislation passed in 2018 and consolidates numerous reports that had been issued separately.  The report provides:

• A holistic overview of competition across all communications marketplaces: mobile wireless, fixed broadband, audio, video, and satellite communications markets.
• An assessment of the state of deployment of communications capabilities.
• An assessment of barriers to competitive entry, including market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and other small businesses.
• A compilation of geographic areas that are not served by any provider of advanced telecommunications capabilities.
• A description of the FCC’s actions to address challenges and opportunities in the communications marketplace during the previous two years.
• A discussion of the FCC’s agenda for continuing to address those challenges and opportunities over the next two years.

FCC Broadband Conversations Podcast

FCC Commissioner Rosenworcel announced the release of the latest episode of her podcast, Broadband Conversations.  The episode features writer, producer, director and actress Justine Bateman, who has become a prominent voice in the fight to save net neutrality.  In this episode, Commissioner Rosenworcel and Justine discuss the importance of a free and open internet and the FCC’s decision to roll back its net neutrality policies one year ago. They also explore Justine’s experience returning to school to obtain a degree in computer science, her new book, and the future of video. 

Rosenworcel said: “On this day one year ago, the FCC repealed its wildly popular net neutrality policies. In doing so, the FCC put itself on the wrong side of history, the wrong side of the law, and the wrong side of the American public. On this episode, listeners will get to hear about Justine Bateman’s longstanding involvement in the fight for net neutrality and why a free and open internet is so essential. They will also get to hear her best advice for women interested in technology (hint: it involves breaking things) as well as about her new book and ideas on the future of media. I am so excited that listeners will get to hear about Justine’s activism, ideas, and advice.”

FCC’s Carr Congratulates Michigan on Small Cell Bill Enactment

Commissioner Brendan Carr congratulated Governor Rick Snyder and Michigan’s legislature for enacting SB-637, their small cell reform bill.  The legislation reduces government fees and speeds review periods for the build out of small cells, the backpack-sized antennas that are the building blocks for 5G. 

“5G mobile broadband will lead to more jobs, better education, and faster service,” said Commissioner Carr. “Michigan’s leaders understand the economic opportunity that 5G can enable and have acted to speed deployment throughout the Wolverine State. They’ve done so by setting reasonable limits on government fees and review periods. I congratulate Governor Snyder and the state legislature on its forward-looking leadership. They set a model for pro-growth and pro-infrastructure policies across the country.” Inteserra Briefing Service stay tuned for the upcoming Briefing.

Maine Announces Text to 911 Availability

The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) announced that text to 911 is now available at all 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) throughout Maine.  The PUC’s Emergency Services Communications Bureau (ESCB) has been working with major wireless telecommunications carriers over the last several months to complete and test this advancement in technology.  Texting 911 should only be used when making a voice call to 911 is not an option. Citizens and visitors throughout Maine can send a short text message to 911 in an emergency. Text-to-911 is intended primarily for use in two emergency scenarios: for those individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing or speech impaired, and for those unable to make a voice call, for example during a medical emergency that renders the person incapable of speech, or in the instance of a home invasion or abduction. 

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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.

The Regulatory Mix will be on hiatus for the Holidays beginning Thursday, December 20, 2018. We will be back on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

Happy Holidays to you!