Today:  US House Energy and Commerce Committee, FTC and DOJ Do Not Call, Texas Municipal Access Line Fees 

US House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearings

The House Energy and Commerce Committee announced two hearings for next week.  On June 13, 2017, the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection will hold a hearing entitled, “Disrupter Series: Update on IOT Opportunities and Challenges.”  The Internet of Things (IOT) is rapidly revolutionizing industries and everyday life for Americans, optimizing everything from manufacturing and home appliances to health care and automobiles. The hearing will allow members to learn more about how businesses and consumers can benefit from innovative technology while also discussing the challenges ahead.  The hearing is in conjunction with the Committee’s IOT Showcase earlier in the day.

Also on June 13, 2017, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a hearing entitled, “Promoting Security in Wireless Technology.”  The hearing will examine the cybersecurity risks wireless technologies with a particular focus on wireless networks and mobile devices.  The hearing will provide members an opportunity to learn more about these threats, what stakeholders are doing to combat and prevent these attacks, and what policies could be helpful in furthering the resiliency of the nation’s wireless networks and devices.

FTC And DOJ Do Not Call Violation Decision

The FTC and DOJ announced that the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois found Dish Network liable for millions of calls that violated the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) (including Do Not Call, entity-specific, and abandoned-call violations), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and state law. The penalties, totaling $280 million, include $168 million for the federal government, which is a record in a DNC case. The remainder of the civil penalty was awarded to the states. The $168 million judgment is the largest civil penalty ever obtained for a violation of the FTC Act.  The complaint counts relating to the TSR alleged that Dish initiated, or caused a telemarketer to initiate, outbound telephone calls to phone numbers on the DNC Registry, in violation of the TSR, violated the TSR’s prohibition on abandoned calls, and assisted and facilitated telemarketers when it knew, or consciously avoided knowing, that the telemarketer was engaged in violations of the law. The court also awarded injunctive relief including (1) requiring Dish to demonstrate compliance with the Safe Harbor Provisions of the TSR; (2) requiring Dish to hire a telemarketing-compliance expert to prepare a plan to ensure compliance with telemarketing laws and the injunction; (3) allowing for unannounced inspections of any Dish or Primary Retailer facility or records; and (4) prohibiting Dish from violating the TSR.

Texas New Municipal Access Line Fees

The PUC of Texas announced the city-preferred access line fees for two municipalities that only recently elected to participate in the statutory framework for compensation of public right-of-way (ROW) usage.   The fees for the two additional municipalities, Zapata County and Jim Hogg County, will be applied prospectively and must be implemented by 6/1/17. TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 6/5/17

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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.