Today: FCC Letter Regarding Diversion of 911 Funds, FCC Eliminates Paper Copies for Cable Operators, President Signs Kari's Law Act of 2017  

FCC Letter Regarding Diversion of 911 Funds

FCC Commissioner O’Rielly sent a letter to the Governors of New York, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, Missouri, Montana and Guam concerning their state’s failure to respond to the FCC’s annual request for information about collection and use of 911 fees, including whether 911 fees are being diverted to other used.  The FCC is required to collect this information annually and issue a report to congress. See the Regulatory Mix dated 2/12/18.

The letter asks the states to provide the following information:

• Why did your state or territory fail to respond to the Commission's request for information regarding the collection and allocation of 911 fees for 2016?
• What steps has your state or territory taken, if any, to rectify the failure to file and provide the FCC the information requested?
• Using the Commission's standards and definition, does your state or territory divert 911 fees to other functions?  If so, how much was diverted in 2016, and for what functions?

FCC Eliminates Paper Copies for Cable Operators

The FCC released the text of its Order eliminating the requirement (codified in various sections of its media rules) that low power TV, TV and FM translator, TV and FM booster stations, cable television relay station (CARS) licensees, and cable operators with more than 1000 subscribers maintain paper copies of FCC rules.  The FCC found that these rules were no longer necessary given the that the most up-to-date versions of its rules are readily available on the Internet.  The FCC cautioned that its action does not eliminate the separate rules that obligate these to be familiar with the rules governing their respective services.  The rule changes will become effective when published in the Federal Register.  (This item had been scheduled for consideration at the FCC’s February meeting but was released prior to the meeting and then removed from the agenda.)

President Signs Kari’s Law Act of 2017

The President signed the Kari’s Law Act of 2017 (Act) into law on February 16, 2018.  It requires that all multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) installed, offered for first sale or lease, first sold or leased, manufactured or imported after February 16, 2020 permit users to directly initiate a call to 911 without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix. 

In a statement from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, the Chairman applauded the signing of Kari's Law and said, " I am thrilled that Kari’s Law has now become the law of the land. An access code should not stand between people who call 911 in need of help and emergency responders who can provide assistance."

Interested in more details on this topic? See Inteserra Briefing dated 2/21/18 and learn how you can receive the complete Briefing.