Today:  Court overturns FCC ICS rate caps, California mandatory 10-digit dialing, Colorado Rural Broadband high-cost support

Court Overturns FCC ICS Rate Caps

The US Court of Appeals in DC has overturned various portions of the FCC’s 2015 Order on inmate calling service rates.  This includes the rules adopting rate caps on intrastate calls, some of the reporting requirements, and the decision to exclude site commissions from the cost of service analysis.  TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 6/14/17.  In response to the Court’s Order, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai issued a statement saying: “Today, the D.C. Circuit agreed with my position that the FCC exceeded its authority when it attempted to impose rate caps on intrastate calls made by inmates.  Looking ahead, I plan to work with my colleagues at the Commission, Congress, and all stakeholders to address the problem of high inmate calling rates in a lawful manner.”  Commissioner Clyburn issued a statement saying, in part: “Today’s D.C. Circuit decision is deeply disappointing, not just for me and the many advocates who have fought for more than a decade to bring about much needed reform in the inmate calling services regime … I remain committed to doing everything I can from working with my colleagues at the Commission, to supporting the efforts of Congress and those in the states to bring relief to millions who continue to suffer from the greatest form of regulatory injustice I have seen in my 18 years as a regulator in the communications space.”

California Mandatory 10-Digit Dialing In 323 And 213 Area Codes Begins July 8, 2017

The PUC issued a press release reminding consumers that beginning on July 8, 2017, residents and businesses with 323 and 213 area codes must dial 1 + area code + telephone number for all calls.  This is part of the boundary elimination area code overlay that was approved in July 2016.  TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 7/27/16.  The 213 and 323 NPAs generally serve the downtown portion of the City of Los Angeles and the surrounding cities of Alhambra, Bell, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Commerce, Cudahy, Glendale, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Rosemead, South Gate, South Pasadena, Vernon, and West Hollywood as well as unincorporated portions of Los Angeles County.

Colorado Rural Broadband High-Cost Support

Senate Bill 17-306 as signed by the Governor updates language regarding the use of money from the high cost support mechanism (HCSM) for broadband deployment grant applications approved by the broadband deployment board to have money transferred directly from the HCSM to approved broadband deployment grant applicants.  The Bill directs the PUC to determine the amount of HCSM money available for broadband deployment and related administrative costs, and the bill requires that amount to be held in a separate account.

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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.