Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Announces Availability of ICS Rate Database for Qualified Parties, Senate Passes SAFE WEB Act

FCC Announces Availability of ICS Rate Database for Qualified Parties

The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) and Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) announced the availability of the database developed by Commission staff for use in the FCC’s proceeding considering changes to its inmate calling service rate caps. Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 8/25/20.

The database was used in developing the rate cap proposals in the proceeding and contains confidential information submitted to the FCC by ICS providers including cost and revenue information that each provider submitted in response to the FCC’s Second Mandatory Data Collection. It also includes geocoding information related to facility locations added by the FCC staff that outside parties might find difficult to replicate. The FCC is making this database available will allow interested parties to rely on a common dataset in evaluating and responding to the rate cap proposals. To receive access to the database, requesting parties must have already been granted access to confidential information in the prior phases of the ICS proceeding by and have a fully effective Acknowledgement of Confidentiality in effect (and all objections to their Acknowledgement must have been resolved in their favor).

Parties seeking access to the database will be required to contact FCC staff, execute a separate Recipient Acknowledgement, and abide by certain confidentiality requirements.

Senate Passes SAFE WEB Act

Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to Senate passage of H.R. 4779, a bill to extend the U.S. SAFE WEB Act:

“This important, bipartisan legislation strengthens the Federal Trade Commission’s ability to protect Americans from international fraudsters and scammers. Particularly now, as we are witnessing a sharp rise in scams that prey on families affected by COVID-19, getting this bill signed into law is more important than ever. Protecting consumers from scams, fraud and abuse will always be one of this Committee’s top priorities, and we look forward to seeing this important legislation become law.”

H.R. 4779 reauthorizes the U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2006 through Fiscal Year 2027.  The U.S. SAFE WEB Act affirms the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) authority to pursue foreign actors engaged in fraud and deception affecting U.S. consumers and businesses. It also bolsters the FTC’s cross-border cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies. The bill was passed out of Energy and Commerce in November 2019, and passed the full House of Representatives by voice vote in December 2019. With Senate passage, it now heads to the President’s desk for signature.

Recent Briefing Headlines from Inteserra:

FCC Announces Effective Date Of Call Blocking Safe Harbor And Single Point of Contact Rules

FCC RDOF Information Collections Become Effective

FCC Requests Comment on Rural Call Completion Report

Nevada Seeks Comment On Late Fees Rule

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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.