Today: FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment, FCC Proceeding on Broadband Enabled Health Care Solutions, New Mexico Law Creates New TRS Surcharges
FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced his intention to form an Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment. The Committee will be charged with providing recommendations to the FCC on empowering all Americans to participate in the communications marketplace. For example, the Committee could help the FCC promote diversity in the communications industry by assisting in the establishment of an incubator program and could identify ways to combat digital redlining. The FCC will issue a follow-up public notice soliciting membership applications and providing additional details. Commissioner Clyburn issued a statement applauding the action and saying, in part: “While no single initiative will solve the digital and opportunities divide, I believe that the formation of this Committee is the first of many steps the FCC can take to ensure all Americans have access to robust and affordable communications services.”
FCC Proceeding on Broadband Enabled Health Care Solutions
The FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment, data, and information on a broad range of regulatory, policy, technical, and infrastructure issues related to the emerging broadband-enabled health and care ecosystem. Topics for comment include:
- Promoting effective policy and regulatory solutions that encourage broadband adoption and promote health IT;
- Identifying regulatory barriers (and incentives) to the deployment of RF-enabled health care tools;
- Assessing the spectrum and wireless infrastructure needs for the future of health care in the United States;
- Strengthening the nation’s telehealth infrastructure through the FCC’s Rural Health Care Program and other initiatives;
- Raising consumer awareness about the value proposition of broadband in the health care sector; and
- Fostering the development of broadband-enabled health technologies that are designed to be fully accessible to people with disabilities.
New Mexico Law Creates New TRS Surcharges
A new law in New Mexico will require interconnected VoIP providers to collect the same TRS surcharge that telecommunications carriers and post-paid CMRS providers currently collect. It also creates a new prepaid wireless (PPW) TRS surcharge to be collected on each retail transaction.. TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 4/21/17.
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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.
