Today: Florida Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Deployment Act, FCC Appoints new Enforcement Bureau Chief, FTC Cramming Fine Resolution, FTC Commissioner attends International Cybersecurity Conference, US Conference of Mayors Resolution  

Florida Governor Signs Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Deployment Act (HB 687)

The CTIA Senior Vice President of External and State Affairs Jamie Hastings said: “We applaud Governor Rick Scott, Senator Travis Hutson and Representative Mike La Rosa for their leadership and support of smart policies that will help streamline the deployment of 5G networks in Florida.  Next-generation wireless will bring countless civic and economic benefits, improving the lives of Floridians.  According to Accenture, the wireless industry is expected to invest over $700 million in Jacksonville alone, while Miami could benefit from more than 4,000 new jobs.” 

FCC Appoints New Enforcement Bureau Chief

FCC Chairman Pai announced that he has picked Rosemary Harold to lead the FCC Enforcement Bureau.  She rejoins the FCC from Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, where she was a partner.  In making the announcement Pai said that “[o]ur enforcement efforts must be governed by the facts and the law, and Rosemary’s experience and expertise will help us conduct sound investigations and craft legally sustainable enforcement actions.  This is especially important when it comes to FCC priorities like protecting consumers against illegal robocalls and confronting unlawful interference with broadcast licensees.”  The Enforcement Bureau manages Commission work enforcing the Communications Act, FCC rules, and various licensing terms and conditions.  The Bureau investigates and responds quickly to potential unlawful conduct to ensure consumer protection, robust competition, efficient and responsible use of the public airwaves, and strict compliance with public safety-related rules.

FTC Cramming Fine Resolution

The FTC has concluded a major phone cramming case as remaining defendants agree to settle charges that they placed more than $70 million in unauthorized charges on consumers’ phone bills.  The settlements with defendants resolve the remaining charges the FTC brought against American eVoice, Ltd., eight other companies, and four individual defendants.  In its complaint, the FTC alleged that the operation placed charges ranging from $9.95 to $24.95 per month on consumers’ landline phone bills for voicemail services they never signed up for and never even knew they had.  Under the terms of the settlements, the defendants are permanently banned from all telephone billing, landline, or mobile.  The orders also ban all defendants from unauthorized billing in general.  In addition, the settlements impose judgments of $41.9 million that are either partially or entirely suspended based on an inability to pay.  In the future, if any of the defendants are found to have misrepresented their financial condition, the entire amount of the respective judgment will become due as to those defendants.

FTC Commissioner attends International Cybersecurity Conference

FTC Commissioner Terrell McSweeny will give opening remarks on “Privacy and Data Security in a Time of Rapid Technological and Social Change”, at the International Cybersecurity Conference. Beit Hatfutsot, Ze’evi Hall, Tel Aviv University.  In addition, Commissioner McSweeny will participate in a panel on Smart Privacy Regulation: Developing a Complex Toolbox at the Conference. 

US Conference of Mayors Resolution

At its 85th Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, the US Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution addressing “The Need to Preserve Local Government and Consumers Rights in the Broadband Era.”  The Resolution calls on the FCC to

• preserve local zoning over cell towers and small cell sitings.  “Such siting decisions must remain local as they involve public safety, community image, property valuations and competitiveness issues that are best handled at the local level.”
• protect local governments’ ability to manage their rights of way (ROW).  They call on authorities to “reject legislative and regulatory initiatives to preempt, or otherwise limit, local governments’ ability to manage their rights-of-way and other proprietary assets, including the ability to demand a fair rental payment for the use of same.”
• expand the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee’s membership to include local government representatives.  “Mayors want their communities connected with wireless and wireline broadband and would welcome discussion of workable practices that they can adopt and shape for their communities.”

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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.