Today:  Oregon Changes Initial 2nd Workshop Schedule, US House 9-1-1 Fee Integrity Act 

Oregon Changes Initial 2nd Workshop Schedule

Oregon has issued a notice changing the workshop schedule in Docket No. AR 618.  This is the rulemaking seeking to adopt disclosure requirements for broadband Internet access service (BIAS) providers contracting with public bodies.  The PUC has changed the date of the 2nd workshop to July 30, 2018 (was July 27, 2018).  The date for the public meeting scheduled for September 11, 2018 is unchanged.  The planned agenda for the workshop and the anticipated schedule for the proceeding are below. 

Planned Agenda

• Introductions
• Updated Schedule for Docket No. AR 618
• Discussion of Staff Draft Rules – To be e-mail distributed as early as possible prior to the workshop.

                                                   Anticipated Schedule for AR 618

                                                *All ending times are approximate; a workshop may be concluded earlier than time indicated.

Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers see Briefings dated 6/14/18 and 6/27/18. See the Regulatory Mix dated 6/28/18 and 7/5/18.

US House 9-1-1 Fee Integrity Act

Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) introduced HR 6424 that prevents states from diverting fees collected from consumers on their phone bills, which are meant to be used to improve 9-1-1 emergency communications systems.  The bill was co-authored by Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (CA-18) and Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07), Vice Chair of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee.  All three legislators have seen 9-1-1 fee diversion in their home states.  The bill directs the FCC, in consultation with public safety organizations, and state, local and tribal governments, to determine the appropriate use of funds collected from consumers. Currently, states are able to set their own definition of what is a covered cost for 9-1-1 fees, which has allowed them to divert fees.

“It is completely unacceptable that we have seen states diverting fees meant to make important and necessary improvements to emergency response systems,” said Collins. “Diverting these important fees puts lives in danger, especially in rural areas. I thank Congresswoman Eshoo and Congressman Lance for their support of this legislation and their commitment to making sure all communities across the nation can achieve the highest level of safety.” 

“Our 9-1-1 call centers are the first point of contact for Americans in emergency situations, but many of these call centers rely on technology that’s been in place since the time of the first 9-1-1 call 50 years ago,” said Eshoo. “9-1-1 fees collected by states should only be used to upgrade our 9-1-1 infrastructure, not diverted to the general coffers of state governments.”

“My constituents need to know that in an emergency the 9-1-1 call is going to go through,” said Lance.  “Lawmakers in Trenton raided the fund set aside to improve the 9-1-1 system and left the account penniless – leaving public safety threatened and taxpayers on the hook.  Members of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee are seeking to end this practice.  The 911 Fee Integrity Act will empower the Federal Communications Commission to crack down on state governments that divert these funds and shortchange much needed upgrades to bring the critical 9-1-1 system into the 21st Century.  And instead of further taxing New Jerseyans, Trenton should first stop diverting the existing fees from their intended use.”  

In response to the legislation, FCC Commissioner O’Rielly issued a statement saying:  “I commend Representatives Collins, Eshoo, and Lance for introducing the 9-1-1 Fee Integrity Act. Importantly, this legislation assigns the process to designate acceptable purposes and functions for 9-1-1 funds to the Commission, rather than the states as allowed under current law. This is key, as states like Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey, and territories like Puerto Rico and Guam, have passed statutes over the years actually requiring the diversion of 9-1-1 funds for non-public safety related purposes. In the case of New Jersey, lawmakers have claimed it will take a constitutional amendment to end the practice. This is absurd and highlights the importance of further Congressional action to bring consistency and clarity to this matter.”

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’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 an Inteserra Briefing.