Today:  US House Hearing on Barriers to Broadband Infrastructure, California Pole and Conduit Workshop, Iowa Local Exchange Competition Rules, New York City Lawsuit Against Verizon

US House Hearing On Barriers To Broadband Infrastructure

The House Communications and Technology Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), announced a hearing for March 21, 2017, entitled, “Broadband: Deploying America’s 21st Century Infrastructure.  The Subcommittee will look at draft legislation to streamline the permitting and siting process at the federal level to spur private sector investment and bring increased and more efficient broadband across the country.  Chairman Blackburn said, in part, “Broadband is a necessity for business in the 21st century and its time our policies reflect that.  In fact, many communities across the country would rather have better access to broadband than an additional lane on a highway.  For too long problems with permitting and siting have held back further investment in expanding broadband infrastructure across the country…I’m looking forward to exploring ways in which we can eliminate the barriers to broadband deployment and get these communities access to vital broadband they desperately need.”

California Pole and Conduit Workshop

The PUC will host a workshop on Pole and Conduit Databases & Applications on March 17, 2017, at their San Francisco headquarters.  They will examine the status of databases and database applications in California regarding ole and conduit information, including pole locations, attachments, material, ownership, and management; and the implications of such data management for safety and access. 

Iowa Local Exchange Competition Rules

The Iowa Utilities Board seeks comment on potential revisions to its Chapter 38 Local Exchange Competition rules.  It also seeks comment on whether its role in protecting competition and overseeing wholesale markets is affected by the transition to IP-based services and whether Chapter 38 needs to be changed to address that transition and other emerging issues.  Comments are due April 7, 2017.  TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 3/14/17.

New York City Lawsuit Against Verizon

New York City has filed suit against Verizon. In a complaint filed in the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, the city declared that Verizon is in breach of an earlier (2008)  franchise agreement.  As a result, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio released this comment on March 13, 2017.  "Verizon must face the consequences for breaking the trust of 8.5 million New Yorkers.  Verizon promised that every household in the city would have access to its fiber-optic FiOS service by 2014.  It's 2017 and we're done waiting. No corporation - no matter how large or powerful - can break a promise to New Yorkers and get away with it."  Click here to read the NYC court filing.

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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.

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