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.

FCC

On June 20, 2016, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler spoke at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C, regarding 'The Future of Wireless: A Vision for U.S. Leadership in a 5G World.'  He said “To seize the opportunities before us, we need the next generation of wireless connectivity – a fifth generation, or 5G.  And if the United States is going to continue to be a world leader in wireless, we need to speed the deployment of 5G, here, on our shores.”  He said that 5G should be a national priority.  On June 23rd he will be circulating proposed new rules that will identify and open up vast amounts of spectrum for 5G applications.  It will be called the Spectrum Frontiers proceeding, and the Commission will vote on it July 14th. 

NG911

Reps. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) requested an update from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the implementation of next generation 911 (NG911) systems across the country and the impact diverting local and state 911 fees has had on emergency services. See Press Release here.

Louisiana 

New legislation, Act No. 532, prohibits any person without legal authority from knowingly interfering with, preventing, disabling, or blocking the lawful creation of a Wi-Fi network via a personal hotspot.  Violation of the new law is punishable by a civil fine of not more than $10,000.  Each day on which a violation occurs will be considered a separate offense.  In sending the legislation to the Governor for signature, the legislature concluded that Wi-Fi is a technology that enables low- power electronic devices, such as laptop computers, tablets, video game consoles, and smartphones, to connect to the Internet and to each other through wireless network access points.  Such "access points" include a Wi-Fi router and also mobile devices that can serve as a wireless access point, known as a "hotspot."  The legislation was signed by the Governor on 6/17/16, and it becomes effective on 8/1/16.

Maine 

The PUC approved the application of Enhanced Communications of New England, Inc. d/b/a FairPoint Internet and FairPoint Long Distance – NNE (Enhanced) to operate as a CLEC in all exchanges within Maine, with the exception of those exchanges in which any subsidiary or affiliate of FairPoint Communications, Inc. provides service as an ILEC.

Save the date for TMI's Fall Telecom Regulatory Seminar and Workshop October 18 & 19, 2016 in Maitland, FL