Today:  FCC’s O’Reilly on West Virginia E-911 Fee Diversion, FTC Announces Final Agenda for its Ninth Session of Competition and Consumer Protection Hearing, US House Hearing On Ray Baum’s Act Implementation 

FCC’s O’Reilly on West Virginia E-911 Fee Diversion

FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly released the text of letters he recently exchanged with West Virginia Governor Jim Justice concerning the state’s efforts to end the practice of diverting E-911 fees.  The Governor indicated that he was concerned about the diversion of E-911 funds but had determined that a statutory change is necessary in order to cease the diversion.  The Governor said he intended to introduce legislation in the next session to ensure that 100% of the state’s E-911 fee revenue will be directed to local PSAPs. 

O’Reilly responded that while the state statue permitting diversion was “concerning” he found the Governor’s intention to facilitate the passage of corrective legislation ”encouraging.”  He said, in part: “I am pleased that your proposal will ensure that 100 percent of the state's 9-1-1 fee revenue will be dedicated to funding the state's PSAPs.  While West Virginia may be reported as diverting fees in this year's report to be released at the end of the year, the passage of this legislation should guarantee that this is the last time the state will appear as a diverter and that these funds are put to their intended purpose of maintaining and improving public safety communications systems.”

FTC Announces Competition and Consumer Protection Hearing Final Agenda

The Federal Trade Commission announced the agenda for the ninth session of its Hearings Initiative, which will focus on data security and take place on December 11-12, 2018.  Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, will deliver opening remarks to kick off the two-day session. The first day also will feature presentations on data breaches, followed by discussions on business incentives to invest in data security as well as consumer demand for security.

The session’s second day will feature a fireside chat on emerging threats to the security of consumer data, with FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Joshua Corman, co-founder of the @IamtheCavalry security initiative. The day will also include panel discussions on data security assessments, how the U.S. should approach consumer data security, and FTC data security enforcement.

US House Hearing On Ray Baum’s Act Implementation

The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), announced it will hold a hearing on Thursday, December 6, 2018 entitled, “RAY BAUM’S Act: A Bipartisan Foundation for Bridging the Digital Divide."  The Act was signed into law in March 2018 and reauthorized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the first time in 28 years.  The Act, which included the Senate's MOBILE NOW legislation, improves public safety, spurs the deployment of 5G networks, reduces the regulatory barriers to broadband investment, and authorizes reimbursement for broadcasters who were displaced in the successful broadcast incentive auction.  The law is named for former Energy and Commerce Committee Staff Director Ray Baum, longtime friend and telecommunication advisor to Chairman Walden, who lost his battle with cancer in February 2018.

“Earlier this year, we delivered a huge win for the American people with the passage of the RAY BAUM’S Act — one of the most comprehensive and significant telecommunications accomplishments in the last two decades,” said #SubCommTech Chairman Blackburn. “This bipartisan law was a significant step forward in our efforts to close the digital divide. RAY BAUM’S Act, with the addition of the Senate’s MOBILE NOW legislation, puts consumers first and improves our nation’s critical telecommunications infrastructure, giving the U.S. a global edge in the race to 5G and improving communications services for millions of Americans, especially in rural areas and those impacted by natural disasters. I look forward to hearing directly from industry stakeholders about the positive impact the RAY BAUM’S Act is making across the country.”  Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 4/16/18.

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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.