FCC Sets Rules for Transitioning Legacy CAF Support

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established a transition framework to phase-down Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase I frozen support (Frozen Support) in areas where support was awarded pursuant to the CAF Phase II Auction (Auction Support).

In auction-eligible areas with no winning bidder, Frozen Support for existing price cap ILEC will continue until further FCC action.  The rules will not become effective until 30 days after publication in the Federal Register and, where necessary, approval of the Office of Management and Budget. Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 2/19/19.

 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Regulatory Mix Today: FCC Sets Rules For Transitioning Legacy CAF Support, FCC to Share International Circuit Data, US House Committee Schedules Hearing on Data Privacy and Security

FCC to Share International Circuit Data

The FCC’s International Bureau has provided notice of its intent to share the international circuit capacity data from the 2015 to 2017 reporting periods, including data for which confidential treatment has been requested, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other national security agencies.  FCC rules allow it to disclose to other Federal agencies records that have been submitted to it in confidence upon another agency’s request or upon the FCC’s own motion.  However, the receiving agency must protect the confidentiality of information to the same extent as the FCC  does.  Accordingly, entities that provided the FCC circuit capacity data for the 2015, 2016, and/or 2017 reporting periods with a request for confidential treatment have 10 days, or until March 1, 2019, to oppose disclosure to DHS and other national security agencies. If the FCC receives no opposition, its International Bureau will disclose this circuit capacity information to DHS and other national security agencies.  If disclosure is opposed and the FCC decides to make the data available, the procedures set forth in section 0.442(d)(4) of the FCC’s rules (relating to the right to seek judicial stay of the FCC’s action) will apply.

The FCC receives two types of annual circuit capacity data regarding international submarine cables: (1) submarine cable licensees must file capacity information for each cable system (i.e., available capacity) as of December 31st of the current reporting period and two years from the current reporting period (i.e., planned capacity) and (2) submarine cable landing licensees and common carriers that owned or leased capacity on a submarine cable between the United States and any foreign point must file capacity information as of December 31st of the current reporting period.

House Committee Schedules Hearing on Data Privacy and Security

Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) announced that the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, February 26, at 10:00 am in the John D. Dingell Room, 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building, on the need for comprehensive data privacy and security legislation.  The hearing is entitled, “Protecting Consumer Privacy in the Era of Big Data.”

Information for this hearing, including the Majority Memorandum, witness list and testimony, and a live webcast, will be posted here as they become available. 

____________________________

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.