Today: US House Hearing on FCC Oversight, FCC Network Reliability Best Practices, Hawaii PUC Audit, Iowa to Opt-In to FirstNet
US House FCC Oversight
The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), announced it will hold a hearing entitled “Oversight and Reauthorization of the Federal Communications Commission” on July 25, 2017 at 10 a.m. All three FCC Commissioners are expected to attend. Participants at this hearing will discuss the agency’s efforts to facilitate broadband deployment and streamline regulations to reflect the realities of the Internet age. Additionally, (1) members will consider legislation that will reauthorize the FCC while implementing a number of reforms aimed at improving the agency’s processes and practices; and (2) members will use this hearing as an opportunity to discuss the FCC’s critically important Lifeline program and the needed improvements identified recently by the GAO. See the Regulatory Mix dated 6/30/17
FCC Encourages Network Reliability Best Practices
The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued an Public Notice encouraging communications service providers to implement appropriate measures to prevent major service disruptions. In particular, the Bureau focuses on prevention of so-called “sunny day” outages that are caused by changes in network management systems. In this regard, the Bureau encourages providers to review and voluntarily implement the seven best practices recommended by the Commission’s Communications Security Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC). The Bureau also recommends that service providers consider implementing five “lessons learned” derived from the Bureau’s fact based analysis of several recent outages.
Hawaii PUC Audit
A new law in Hawaii requires the state auditor to conduct a management audit to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the PUC and aid in the PUC's transition to a better functioning entity. The management audit must include, but not be limited to: (1) appropriateness and applicability of current utility legislation; (2) adequacy of coverage of current PUC policies, rules, and procedures, including the PUC's current strategic plan; and (3) management of the PUC. The auditor may also review PUCs in other jurisdictions to determine any generally considered best practices. The auditor must submit its report to the legislature, including proposed legislation, prior to the convening of the regular legislation session for 2018.
Iowa to Opt-In to FirstNet Network
Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg announced participation in a new nationwide first responder network at their administration’s weekly press conference Tuesday. Iowa is the fifth state to opt-in to the FirstNet cell network. The network gives priority to police, fire and other emergency workers during a crisis.
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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.
