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.
FCC Foreign Ownership Rules
The FCC adopted rules to extend to broadcast licensees the same streamlined rules and procedures that common carrier wireless licensees use to seek approval for foreign ownership, with appropriate broadcast-specific modifications. The FCC also reformed the methodology for publicly traded broadcast and common carrier licensees and controlling U.S. parents to assess compliance with the statutory foreign ownership limits. The FCC said that adopting “a standardized filing and review process for broadcast licensees’ requests for approval of foreign ownership will provide the broadcast sector with a clearer path for investment. The reformed methodology for ascertaining foreign ownership of publicly traded licensees and controlling U.S. parents will eliminate the need to perform surveys or random samples of shareholders, which the Commission finds are impractical for public companies in today’s marketplace.” Click here for News Release and Commissioner Statements.
FCC Fax Advertisements
The FCC is seeking comments on petitions that were filed seeking a waiver of §64.1200(a)(4)(iv) of the Commission’s rules, which requires that an opt-out notice containing certain information be included in fax ads sent to a consumer who has provided prior express invitation or permission. Comments are due 10/4/16 and reply comments are due 10/21/16. The FCC’s opt out rules specify that the opt-out notice contained in fax ads must: (1) be clear and conspicuous and on the first page of the ad; (2) state that the recipient may make a request to the sender not to send any future ads and that failure to comply, within 30 days, with a request is unlawful; and (3) contain a domestic contact telephone number and fax number for the recipient to transmit an opt-out request. If neither the required telephone number nor fax number is a toll-free number, a separate cost-free mechanism, including a Web site address or email address, must be provided for a recipient to transmit a request to opt-out of future faxes
Ohio Cybersecurity Initiative
Attorney General Mike DeWine (R.) announced the launch of CyberOhio, a "collection of cybersecurity initiatives aimed at helping Ohio businesses fight back against data security threats." The goal of CyberOhio is "to help foster a legal, technical, and collaborative cybersecurity environment to help Ohio businesses thrive," he said. The program will include creation of a Cybersecurity Advisory Board, draft legislation to improve the legal cybersecurity environment, training opportunities including a cybersecurity business summit in the spring of 2017, expanding the AG's Identity Theft Unit to assist businesses with cybersecurity and data privacy, and the creation of collaborative internship opportunities between businesses and Ohio colleges and universities. Click here for the News Release or the OH Cybersecurity web page.
Nebraska Infrastructure Workshop
The PSC opened a proceeding to collect data and investigate issues related to the reliability, redundancy, and interoperability of certain critical underground facilities in Nebraska. Among other things, the PSC is concerned about service interruptions affecting access to 9-1-1 service due to cable cuts. The PSC intends to ensure that services provided by regulated entities are being provided through adequate service quality and network backup plans. Workshops have been scheduled for October 20, November 2, and November 10, 2016. Click here for workshop details.
