Today:  California 619 and 858 Area Code Reminder, FCC workshop on Communications During Disasters, Kentucky to Review the TRS Fund Surcharge 

California 619 and 858 Area Code Reminder

The Public Utilities Commission of California (PUC) issued a reminder that starting on May 19, 2018, subscribers with 619 and 858 area codes must dial 1 + area code + telephone number for all calls.  After that date, if callers do not use the new dialing procedures, the call will not be completed, and a recording will instruct the caller to hang up and dial again using the new dialing procedure.  Importantly, the new dialing procedure will not change existing 619 and 858 phone numbers or the cost of the call.  Calls that are in a consumer’s local calling area remain local calls.  Also, consumers can still dial three digits to reach 911, as well as 211, 311, 2 411, 511, 611, 711, and 811 where they are available. 

FCC Workshop on Communications During Disasters

The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) announced it will host a public workshop on April 13, 2018, to identify communications information needs of government and consumers to improve preparation and response efforts during crises.  The workshop is intended to ensure the FCC is collecting the critical information necessary to best support the preparedness and response activities of stakeholders to facilitate the availability and reliability of communications during emergencies, disasters, and significant events.  The event will be broadcast live at www.fcc.gov/live.

Kentucky to Review the TRS Fund Surcharge

The Public Service Commission of Kentucky (PUC) released an order stating that it will conduct a formal review of the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) fund surcharge annually to determine if a change in the surcharge is warranted.  Previously, the PUC reduced the surcharge starting January 1, 2018.  The PUC decided that annual reviews of the TRS fund will reduce the potential for large balance shortfalls and overages.  Annual reviews will begin 120 days before the end of the calendar year, with the goal of implementing changes on the first day of the following calendar year. 

Looking for details regarding the TRS Fund Surcharge in Kentucky? Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 9/15/17. Not a subscriber? See this Briefing available via our shopping site at Kentucky Adjusts TRS Surcharge 9/15/18.

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’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 an Inteserra Briefing.