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 Guide on Birds and Tower Lights

A new FCC guide discusses how tower owners can reduce bird collisions by as much as 70%, particularly for migratory birds, with little or no cost to the tower owner.  Studies show that non-flashing red lights, such as L-810 side-marker lights, can attract birds when illuminated.  This puts the birds at greater risk of collision with guy wires, tower structural members, and antennas that are hard to see in dim light.  Birds are much less attracted to flashing lights on towers, such as L-864 (red) or L-865 (white) obstruction lights.

The FAA and the FCC recognize this concern, and have implemented steps to reduce bird collisions through modifications in red tower lighting.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has revised its advisory circular that prescribes tower lighting to eliminate new use of L-810 steady- burning side lights on towers taller than 350 feet (106 meters) above ground level (AGL). Tower owners may now request a “lighting deviation” from the FAA that can be used to extinguish or eliminate L-810 steady-burning side lights from an existing registered tower.  According to the FCC, the FAA will usually approve such requests quickly.  The FCC’s guide includes instructions on how to file a lighting deviation request at the FAA and FCC. 

Nevada USF

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada is proposing to adopt amendments to its rules governing the fund to maintain the availability of telephone service in Nevada (the Nevada Universal Service Fund).  The amendments would increase the time for remitting the quarterly fund assessments to 30 days after the last day of the month in the calendar quarter.  The remainder of the changes address the disbursement rules.  TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 8/26/16.

 TMI Fall 2016 Telecom Regulatory Seminar & Workshop in Maitland, FL on October 18 & 19.