BLOG

Posted by Amy Gross on 8/26/20 1:54 PM

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FTC Announces New DNC Registry Fees,  FCC Further Extends Temporary Relay Services Waivers, FCC Successfully Concludes 5G Mid-Band Spectrum Auction

 

FTC shutterstock_399778786FTC Announces New DNC Registry Fees

The Federal Trade Commission has announced FY 2021 fees for telemarketers accessing phone numbers on the National Do-Not-Call (DNC) Registry.  The new fees become effective October 1, 2020.  Most FY 2021 Registry access fees will increase slightly based on the re-evaluation required by the Do‑Not‑Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007.  Under the Act’s provisions, in FY 2021 telemarketers will pay $66 for yearly access to Registry phone numbers in a single area code, which is an increase of $1 from FY 2020. The maximum charge to any single entity for accessing all area codes nationwide will now be $18,044 (up from $17,765 in FY 2020). The fee for accessing an additional area code for a half year will increase $1 in FY 2021, from $32 to $33. They are set forth in a proposed Federal Register notice

All telemarketers calling consumers in the United States are required to download the numbers on the National DNC Registry to ensure they do not call people who have registered their phone numbers. The first five area codes are free to download, and organizations that are exempt, such as some charitable organizations, may obtain the entire list for free. Telemarketers must subscribe each year for access to the Registry numbers.

 

FCC Entrance Feb 2020 Shutterstock-1FCC Further Extends Temporary Relay Services Waivers

The FCC has extended, through November 30, 2020, the temporary waivers it previously granted Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) providers to ensure relay services remain available during the COVID-19 pandemic for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or have a speech disability.  The waivers grant TRS providers flexibility to deal with reduced staffing and increased call volumes, enable more of their employees to provide services from their homes, and expand the pool of contractors qualified to provide American Sign Language interpretation services for Video Relay Service.  The FCC also extended waivers that  enable Internet Protocol Relay Service communications assistants to provide service from home workstations and to allow registered VRS users to make calls to the U.S. from abroad during the national emergency.

 

DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE FCC BRIEFING

 

2020 FCC SealFCC Successfully Concludes 5G Mid-Band Spectrum Auction

The FCC announced the successful conclusion of bidding in its auction of Priority Access Licenses in the 3550-3650 MHz band. This auction, which was designated as Auction 105, made available the greatest number of spectrum licenses ever in a single FCC auction. The 70 megahertz of licensed spectrum will further the deployment of 5G, the next generation of wireless connectivity, as well as the Internet of Things and other advanced spectrum-based services. According to the FCC, gross proceeds reached $4,585,663,345, and bidders won 20,625 of 22,631, or more than 91.1%, of available licenses.  The FCC said it will release a public notice in a few days providing detailed auction results, including the names of Auction 105 winning bidders, and announcing deadlines for payments and the filing of long-form applications, as well as other post-auction procedures needed for the prompt issuance of licenses.

pai-bio-page-10242018 (1)In response to the auction, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said: “This is a banner day for American leadership in 5G and for American consumers. The 3.5 GHz auction has concluded, and I can say unequivocally: It was a resounding success.  The strong demand for licenses was the direct result of this Commission’s reforms to the rules for the 3.5 GHz band—reforms that would not have been possible without the leadership and hard work of my colleague, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly. This auction has been a key part of our 5G FAST Plan and our ongoing push to make more mid-band spectrum available for 5G. I look forward to this important spectrum being put to use quickly to provide service to the American people. And I look forward to the Commission making available 280 more megahertz of mid-band spectrum for 5G in the C-band auction beginning on December 8.”

Receive Sample Trac-It Report!

____________________________

The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s 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.

 

 

Contact Us   for  Broadband Reporting Assistance!

 

 

GET COVID-19 STATE REGULATORY ACTION LIST HERE

 

Topics: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Temporary Relay Services Waiver, FTC DNC Registry Fees, 5G Mid-Band Spectrum Auction

Subscribe to our FREE Regulatory Mix and Blogs with Email Alerts.

Recent Posts

Posts by Topic

see all

Posted by Amy Gross on 8/26/20 1:54 PM

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FTC Announces New DNC Registry Fees,  FCC Further Extends Temporary Relay Services Waivers, FCC Successfully Concludes 5G Mid-Band Spectrum Auction

 

FTC shutterstock_399778786FTC Announces New DNC Registry Fees

The Federal Trade Commission has announced FY 2021 fees for telemarketers accessing phone numbers on the National Do-Not-Call (DNC) Registry.  The new fees become effective October 1, 2020.  Most FY 2021 Registry access fees will increase slightly based on the re-evaluation required by the Do‑Not‑Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007.  Under the Act’s provisions, in FY 2021 telemarketers will pay $66 for yearly access to Registry phone numbers in a single area code, which is an increase of $1 from FY 2020. The maximum charge to any single entity for accessing all area codes nationwide will now be $18,044 (up from $17,765 in FY 2020). The fee for accessing an additional area code for a half year will increase $1 in FY 2021, from $32 to $33. They are set forth in a proposed Federal Register notice

All telemarketers calling consumers in the United States are required to download the numbers on the National DNC Registry to ensure they do not call people who have registered their phone numbers. The first five area codes are free to download, and organizations that are exempt, such as some charitable organizations, may obtain the entire list for free. Telemarketers must subscribe each year for access to the Registry numbers.

 

FCC Entrance Feb 2020 Shutterstock-1FCC Further Extends Temporary Relay Services Waivers

The FCC has extended, through November 30, 2020, the temporary waivers it previously granted Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) providers to ensure relay services remain available during the COVID-19 pandemic for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or have a speech disability.  The waivers grant TRS providers flexibility to deal with reduced staffing and increased call volumes, enable more of their employees to provide services from their homes, and expand the pool of contractors qualified to provide American Sign Language interpretation services for Video Relay Service.  The FCC also extended waivers that  enable Internet Protocol Relay Service communications assistants to provide service from home workstations and to allow registered VRS users to make calls to the U.S. from abroad during the national emergency.

 

DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE FCC BRIEFING

 

2020 FCC SealFCC Successfully Concludes 5G Mid-Band Spectrum Auction

The FCC announced the successful conclusion of bidding in its auction of Priority Access Licenses in the 3550-3650 MHz band. This auction, which was designated as Auction 105, made available the greatest number of spectrum licenses ever in a single FCC auction. The 70 megahertz of licensed spectrum will further the deployment of 5G, the next generation of wireless connectivity, as well as the Internet of Things and other advanced spectrum-based services. According to the FCC, gross proceeds reached $4,585,663,345, and bidders won 20,625 of 22,631, or more than 91.1%, of available licenses.  The FCC said it will release a public notice in a few days providing detailed auction results, including the names of Auction 105 winning bidders, and announcing deadlines for payments and the filing of long-form applications, as well as other post-auction procedures needed for the prompt issuance of licenses.

pai-bio-page-10242018 (1)In response to the auction, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said: “This is a banner day for American leadership in 5G and for American consumers. The 3.5 GHz auction has concluded, and I can say unequivocally: It was a resounding success.  The strong demand for licenses was the direct result of this Commission’s reforms to the rules for the 3.5 GHz band—reforms that would not have been possible without the leadership and hard work of my colleague, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly. This auction has been a key part of our 5G FAST Plan and our ongoing push to make more mid-band spectrum available for 5G. I look forward to this important spectrum being put to use quickly to provide service to the American people. And I look forward to the Commission making available 280 more megahertz of mid-band spectrum for 5G in the C-band auction beginning on December 8.”

Receive Sample Trac-It Report!

____________________________

The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s 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.

 

 

Contact Us   for  Broadband Reporting Assistance!

 

 

GET COVID-19 STATE REGULATORY ACTION LIST HERE

 

Topics: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Temporary Relay Services Waiver, FTC DNC Registry Fees, 5G Mid-Band Spectrum Auction

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts

Posts by Topic

see all