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

The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a decision denying the petitions for review of the FCC’s Open Internet (Net Neutrality) order. See previous TMI Blogs: FCC Adopts Net Neutrality Rules posted 2/27/15, Court Refuses To Stay Open Internet Order posted 6/11/15, and  More Weigh In on Court Refusal To Stay FCC Open Internet Order posted 6/12/15. 

In response to the Court’s decision, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler issued a statement saying:

“Today’s ruling is a victory for consumers and innovators who deserve unfettered access to the entire web, and it ensures the internet remains a platform for unparalleled innovation, free expression and economic growth. After a decade of debate and legal  battles, today’s ruling affirms the Commission’s ability to enforce the strongest possible internet protections – both on fixed and mobile networks – that will ensure the Internet remains open, now and in the future.”

Commissioner Ajit Pai issued his own statement saying:

“I am deeply disappointed by the D.C. Circuit’s 2-1 decision upholding the FCC’s Internet regulations. For many of the reasons set forth in Judge Williams’ compelling dissent, I continue to believe that these regulations are unlawful, and I hope that the parties challenging them will continue the legal fight. The FCC’s regulations are unnecessary and counterproductive.”

To learn more about the FCC’s Open Internet rules, visit www.fcc.gov/openinternet.  

California

The PUC approved grant funding in the amount of $239,793 from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Public Housing Account (BPHA) in response to the public housing infrastructure grant applications from the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB) for its Lynwood and North E Street projects, Community Housing Works (CHW) for its Northwest Manors II projects, and from Eden Housing, Inc. (Eden) for its Hayward Senior, Warner Creek, Jasmine Square, Monticelli, Rancho Park, Royal Court, Wheeler Manor 650 5th Street Wheeler Manor 651 6th Street projects.  These 12 projects will be capable of offering Internet service speeds of at least 6 mbps download and 1.5 mbps upload for 548 living units in these Publicly Supported Communities.  The PUC’s decision also delegates authority to the PUC Staff to approve applications through expedited review for properties that are already wired.

New York

In late 2014, the PSC approved an overlay area code relief plan for the geographic area associated with the 631 area code of Suffolk County, (Long Island) New York.  TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefings dated 12/24/14 and 7/10/14. The PSC issued a Press Release to remind residential, business, and wireless customers within the existing 631 area code in Suffolk County to prepare for the introduction of the new 934 area code, and the start of 10-digit dialing (631 or 934 plus the 7-digit local telephone number) starting June 18, 2016.

Maryland

The PSC will hold a conference at its offices on July 5, 2016.  The purpose of the conference is to establish a procedural schedule in its proceeding to consider tariffing requirements for competitive local exchange telephone companies with 20,000 or fewer subscribers. 

 As of June 20, 2016, the physical address for Technologies Management, Inc. will be:

151 Southhall Lane, Sutie 450, Maitland, FL 32751