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.

The Regulatory Mix will not be published on Friday, July 1st or on Monday, July 4th.

INCOMPAS

         INCOMPAS/Verizon

An INCOMPAS press release announces an expanded INCOMPAS/Verizon business data service (BDS) compromise.  INCOMPAS, the Internet and competitive network association, and Verizon have sent a letter to the FCC describing a jointly developed outline for a new BDS framework.  The proposal represents a middle ground between different perspectives and it addresses the core principles set forth in the FCC’s Business Data Services FNPRM.  TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 5/13/16.  Comments on the FCC’s FNPRM are due today.  INCOMPAS Press release and Letter to the FCC.  FCC FNPRM.

NARUC

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) will host its Summer Committee Meetings at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, July 24-27.  The panel discussions will include such topics as:  Fixed & Mobile Broadband Internet Access Service - FCC Title II Designation Upheld; Internet Privacy - The Rules of Engagement?; and Rural Wireless.

FirstNet

The First Responder Network Authority's (FirstNet) Governance and Personnel, Finance, Technology, and Consultation and Outreach Committees are scheduled to hold open joint meetings on June 29th in Chicago.  On June 30th, there will be an open meeting of the full Board.  During the committee meetings, the Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on a recommendation concerning a lease at FirstNet's Boulder, Colorado, facility.  The Governance and Personnel Committee plans to vote on a recommendation to update the charter of the Public Safety Advisory Committee.  At the full Board meeting, a vote is scheduled on both of those resolutions.

FCC

Chairman Wheeler posted a blog entitled “Unleashing Next-Generation Networks.”  He said that it is the FCC’s job to facilitate the progress and maximize the benefits of communications technology advancements for the American people.  This governing principle will be the theme of the Commission’s July open meeting.  See the Regulatory Mix dated 6/27/16.  He said “If the Commission approves the Spectrum Frontiers item [on the 6/14 meeting agenda], the United States will be the first country in the world to open up high-band spectrum for 5G networks and applications.  That’s a big deal because it means U.S. companies will be first out of the gate.”  He recognizes the changing role of traditional, local land-line telephone service and proposes removing the outdated designation of incumbent carriers as the dominant providers in the long-distance voice market, “freeing them from outdated regulations.”  To speed the transition to faster, better networks, he recommends (via the Spectrum Frontiers proposal) a streamlined framework for evaluating requests to discontinue legacy service.  To ensure the public is aware of and prepared for requests by providers to discontinue traditional services, he recommends refining the Section 214 notice requirements.

California 

PUC Commissioner Sandoval released an Alternate Proposed Decision to the Draft Decision released in November 2015 regarding new service quality standards.  Among the changes proposed by the Alternate is that (1) the General Order (GO) 133-D would apply to all public utility telephone corporations providing service within the State of California and (2) the fines for chronic failure to meet service quality standards would not include an option for suspension of the fines based on a carrier’s submission of a “corrective action plan.”  The GO 133-D will supersede in all respects GO 133-C.  The penalty provisions would become effective on January 1, 2017.  Parties may file comments on the Alternate Decision on or before July 12, 2016; reply comments are due on July 18, 2016.  The Alternate proposes opening another phase of the proceeding to examine the need for service quality standards for wireless and VoIP service.