Today:  4G LTE Data Collection, FCC Announces Hurricane Recovery Task Force,  FCC Extends Filing and Regulatory Deadlines for Areas Affected by Hurricane Maria  

4G LTE Data Collection Responses Due 1/4/18

On September 22, 2017, the Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force, in conjunction with the Wireline Competition Bureau and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau released the 4G LTE Data Collection Public Notice with instructions for responding to the one-time 4G LTE coverage data collection adopted by the FCC in the MF-II Challenge Process Order.  The FCC announced that the due date for the data collection filings is January 4, 2018.  In addition, subject entities must submit contact information for this collection using the form posted at https://www.fcc.gov/MF2-LTE-Collection by October 23, 2017.

FCC Announces Hurricane Recovery Task Force

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the formation of an FCC Hurricane Recovery Task Force.  The internal task force, chaired by Michael Carowitz, Special Counsel to Chairman Pai, will continue the FCC’s work in support of the restoration of communications services in areas affected by this season’s hurricanes.

“As we shift from short-term incident management to a longer-term recovery phase, it makes sense to adjust the structure of the FCC’s response.  In the weeks and months to come, the Commission will be confronting a wide range of storm-related issues that fall within the jurisdiction of numerous bureaus and offices,” said Chairman Pai.  “It is critical that we adopt a coordinated and comprehensive approach to support the rebuilding of communications infrastructure and restoration of communications services.  The Hurricane Recovery Task Force will allow us to do just that.”

FCC Extends Filing and Regulatory Deadlines for Areas Affected by Hurricane Maria

Considering the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will waive certain of their rules for six months.  They will also consider, as the six-month date approaches, whether additional relief on a broad or more targeted basis is needed.  Therefore certain deadlines occurring between September 20, 2017 and March 19, 2018, are extended until March 20, 2018, for affected licensees, applicants, and registrants in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Click here for specific details.

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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.

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