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 Broadband Progress
The FCC has asked for comment in connection with its Twelfth Broadband Progress Notice of Inquiry concerning the progress toward deploying broadband to all Americans on a reasonable and timely basis. Among other things, the FCC seeks comment on: (1) its proposal to maintain the existing 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload speed benchmark for fixed advanced telecommunications capability; (2) its proposal to establish a speed benchmark of 10 Mbps/1 Mbps for mobile broadband services; (3) whether it should adopt non-speed performance metrics, including service consistency and latency; (4) criteria and benchmarks by which to measure advanced telecommunications capability deployment to schools and classrooms; and (5) additional factors that may affect the deployment and/or availability of advanced telecommunications capability. Comments are due September 6, 2016; reply comments are due September 21, 2016. TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 8/8/16.
Louisiana
A new law in Louisiana will revise the prepaid wireless 911 service charge (PPW 911 charge) to broaden the class of services that it applies to. Effective October 1, 2016, the PPW 911 charge will be renamed the prepaid 911 charge. The new charge will apply to any prepaid service capable of accessing 911, not just prepaid wireless service (i.e., prepaid VoIP). A prepaid service is one that is paid for in advance and sold in predetermined units or dollars of which the number declines with use in a known amount. The prepaid service may use voice, text, video, image, data, or other means to reach 911. As with the PW 911 charge, the new charge will be collected at the point of sale on each retail transaction. The amount of the charge will also be increased. TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 8/3/16.
Oklahoma
The Commission adopted changes to its Part 55 rules. Those rules apply to local exchange carriers and facilities-based IXCs. Among other things, the revised rules address: (1) applications for certificates and initial tariffs; (2) tariff changes; (3) the handling of billing disputes; (4) the filing of interconnection agreements; and (5) applications for Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) status. The new rules will become effective August 25, 2016. TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 8/16/16.
TMI Fall 2016 Regulatory Seminar & Workshop - October 18 & 19 in Maitland, FL.
