Today:  California Drafts Net Neutrality Legislation, Idaho Opens Proceeding on IUSF  

California Drafts Net Neutrality Legislation

Senator Scott Wiener drafted legislation (SB822) to address the FCC’s recent action on net neutrality.  "My legislation will bring net neutrality requirements to California.  There are several ways we can bring net neutrality to California," he said.  "California can regulate business practices to require net neutrality, condition state contracts on adhering to net neutrality, and require net neutrality as part of cable franchise agreements, as a condition to using the public right-of-way for internet infrastructure, and in broadband packages." 

In addition, Senator De Leon introduced SB460 seeking broadband internet access service guidelines to take effect immediately.  This bill would establish statewide consumer protection rules, ensure that public purpose program funding is expended in a manner that will maximize Internet neutrality and ensure the fair distribution of services to low-income individuals and communities, and establish a process whereby an Internet service provider in California is required to certify to the Public Utilities Commission that it is providing broadband Internet access service in accordance with the provisions of the bill.

Idaho Opens Proceeding on IUSF

The Idaho Public Utility Commission has initiated a proceeding to consider the continuing viability of the Idaho Universal Service Fund (IUSF).  The PUC will hold two public workshops to consider possible changes to the IUSF. Among other things, the workshops will consider how the IUSF relates to the current legal and regulatory framework, the evolving telecommunications landscape, and potential changes to the fund such as capping the fund and gradually eliminating it over time.  The first workshop will be held 1/17/18.

TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 1/4/18

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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.