Colorado Releases Annual 911 Report

• Funding challenges related to the delivery of 9-1-1 service in Colorado are serious and are growing.  While the bulk of the non-recurring costs of migration to the ESInet will be reimbursed via federal grant and matching funds designated by the PUC, monthly recurring costs for delivery of 9-1-1 calls to PSAPs are nearly doubling.
• Colorado’s 9-1-1 system is at the beginning stages of a migration toward an all-IP (Internet Protocol) (NG 911) based infrastructure which has the potential to greatly improve the reliability and functionality of 9-1-1 services available to Colorado residents and visitors.

In relation to the costs of migrating the current 911 system to NG 911 the PUC noted that “the one-time costs for migrating every PSAP in the state to the ESInet is expected to cost approximately $3.9 million, and the annual costs of ESInet are expected to be approximately $5.9 million, as opposed to the approximately $2.9 million paid for under the legacy 9-1-1 tariff. While the non-recurring costs are expected to be reimbursed by a federal grant and with matching funds designated by the Commission, the ongoing costs for the ESInet are currently responsibility of the state’s 58 local 9-1-1 governing bodies.”

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The Regulatory Mix Today: Colorado Releases Annual 911 Report, FCC Consumer Advisory Committee Robocalling Recommendation

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FCC Consumer Advisory Committee Robocalling Recommendation

The FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee released a recommendation on block notification and critical call lists associated with the efforts to stop robocalling.  Among other things they recommended that:

• Consumers be appropriately notified if calls intended for them are blocked.  Service providers should offer a blocked call log, or similar tools, that consumers can access at will.  The information should be available where consumers customarily view information, such as with their online account information or through an app for wireless customers. 
• Service providers should supply consumers with clear disclosures of the types of calls they can expect will be blocked, and warn them that wanted calls may inadvertently be blocked as well. 
• Consumers should have clear instructions as to how to opt out of blocking service and should have options to manage robocall blocking preferences, such as through a customer portal, in-store, by phone, or other choices.
• Once the opt-out blocking program is introduced, consumers should be notified by methods such as those provided at point-of-sale and in customers’ bills, both online and by mail, or by other means as deemed appropriate. 
• Service providers should maintain a webpage that includes information about opt-out blocking and labeling tools clearly explaining to consumers the robocall-related services provided, which calls are blocked, and how to opt in and out. The service should be provided at no additional line-item charge.
• Customer service personnel should be trained to explain to consumers their anti-robocall options.
• Efforts to educate consumers on anti-robocall options and how to exercise their preferences should be ongoing. Service providers should notify consumers periodically with respect to these offerings.
• Critical calls list inclusion criteria should remain as narrow as possible so as to include only critical emergency calls. The content and use of the list should be governed by rules established by the FCC.
• Each voice service provider should consider whether to offer to consumers the option to maintain their own critical calls list and, if offered, the extent to which consumers would be able to customize those lists.
  
  

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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.

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