The Regulatory Mix - Thursday, September 6, 2018

Today:  FCC Releases Agenda for September Open Meeting, FCC Commissioner Rosenworcel NG911 Comments

FCC Releases Agenda for September Open Meeting  

The FCC has released the draft text of each item expected to be considered at this Open Commission Meeting with the exception of several items involving specific, enforcement-related matters.  

• Kari's Law NPRM
  The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing calls to 911 made from multi-line telephone systems, pursuant to Kari's Law, the conveyance of dispatchable location with 911 calls, as directed by RAY BAUM'S Act, and the consolidation of the Commission's 911 rules. (PS Docket Nos. 18-261, 17-239)
• Wireless Infrastructure Order
  The Commission will consider a Declaratory Ruling and Report and Order that will clarify the scope and meaning of Sections 253 and 332(c)(7) of the Communications Act, establish shot clocks for state and local approvals for the deployment of small wireless facilities, and provide guidance on streamlining state and local requirements on wireless infrastructure deployment. (WT Docket No. 17-79; WC Docket No. 17-84)
• Clarifying Local Franchising Authorities Regulation of Cable Operators
  The Commission will consider a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing two issues raised by a remand from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit concerning how local franchising authorities may regulate incumbent cable operators and cable television services. (MB Docket No. 05-311)
• Cable Data Collection
  The Commission will consider a Report and Order that eliminates the Form 325, Annual Report of Cable Television Systems, filing requirement. (MB Docket Nos. 17-290, 17-105)
• Toll Free Assignment Modernization
  The Commission will consider a Report and Order that will amend the Commission's rules to allow for use of auctions to assign certain toll free numbers and takes other actions to modernize the administration and assignment of toll free numbers. (WC Docket No. 17-192; CC Docket No 95-155)
• Satellite Earth Stations in Motion
  The Commission will consider action to facilitate the deployment of and harmonize the rules concerning three types of Fixed-Satellite Service earth stations authorized to transmit while in motion: Earth Stations on Vessels, Vehicle-Mounted Earth Stations, and Earth Stations Aboard Aircraft. (IB Docket No. 17-95)

FCC Commissioner Rosenworcel NG911 Comments

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel recently made comments at the NG911 Institute.   Among other things, Commissioner Rosenworcel commented on various topics including the hurricane season response and the 911 calls that resulted from it. 

“You heard me mention at the start that nearly 80 percent of calls now come from wireless phones. Let’s be honest—that is not the kind of calling our 911 systems were initially built to handle. They were built for clunky, wired devices—you know, the kind with a cord and a jack in the wall. But over time we have changed how we reach out in danger and the 911 system has adjusted. It now accommodates wireless calling, VoIP calling, and in some locations texting. But all this change in how we reach out in crisis has consequences—because these new ways of making a call do not provide the same level of location information for the 911 operator taking that call.” 

Commissioner Rosenworcel then went on to discuss the various ways the FCC is attempting to address changes with the 911 systems including: rules to improve indoor wireless location accuracy; “enterprise communications systems;” and implementation of the Ray Baum’s Act which included tasking the FCC with holding a proceeding that takes a look at how we can ensure that dispatchable location is conveyed with every 911 call, regardless of the platform used.  The FCC will be addressing the Ray Baum Act requirement at its September meeting. 

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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.