Today: WIA Stresses Crucial Role of Wireless Infrastructure, US Congress Joint Resolution Nullifies FCC  Internet Privacy Rules, FCC "Can You hear Me" Alert, Nebraska USF Hearing, FCC Chairman on the Future of Broadband in the Lifeline Program

FCC Chairman on the Future of Broadband in the Lifeline Program

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai released a statement on the future of broadband in the Lifeline Program. The Chairman said "Going forward, I want to make it clear that broadband will remain in the Lifeline program so long as I have the privilege of serving as Chairman."  Pai went on to ask the FCC's Office of General Counsel to seek a remand of last year's Lifeline reform order, saying in his statement that "In my view, it would be a waste of judicial and  administrative resources to defend the FCC’s unlawful action in court. I am therefore instructing the Office of General Counsel to ask the D.C. Circuit to send this case back to the Commission for further consideration. And the FCC will soon begin a proceeding to eliminate the new federal designation process."

FCC ‘Can You Hear Me’ Alert

The FCC is alerting consumers to be on the lookout for scam callers seeking to get victims to say the word “yes” during a call and later use a recording of the response to authorize unwanted charges on the victim's utility or credit card account.  According to complaints the FCC has received and public news reports, the fraudulent callers impersonate representatives from organizations that provide a service and may be familiar to the person receiving the call, such as a mortgage lender or utility, to establish a legitimate reason for trying to reach the consumer.

Nebraska USF Hearing

The PSC rescheduled the hearing in the Nebraska Universal Service Fund (NUSF) proceeding.  The Hearing Officer finds that the hearing should be moved to permit the preparation and review of reply testimony.  Accordingly, reply testimony may be filed on or before April 21, 2017.  The hearing is moved to May 23, 2017.  This proceeding is investigation whether a flat-rate NUSF assessment should apply to both residential and business lines including wireline, wireless, and VoIP connections.  TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 2/28/17.

US Congress Joint Resolution Nullifies FCC Internet Privacy Rules

The 115th Congress passed, without amendment, a joint resolution that nullifies the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission entitled "Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services." The Resolution Summary states:

S.J.Res.34 - A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to "Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services".  This joint resolution nullifies the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission entitled "Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services." The rule published on December 2, 2016: (1) applies the customer privacy requirements of the Communications Act of 1934 to broadband Internet access service and other telecommunications services, (2) requires telecommunications carriers to inform customers about rights to opt in or opt out of the use or the sharing of their confidential information, (3) adopts data security and breach notification requirements, (4) prohibits broadband service offerings that are contingent on surrendering privacy rights, and (5) requires disclosures and affirmative consent when a broadband provider offers customers financial incentives in exchange for the provider's right to use a customer's confidential information.

WIA Stresses Crucial Role of Wireless Infrastructure

Jonathan Adelstein, CEO and President of the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA), delivered a keynote address at the annual South Wireless Summit here today in which he highlighted the crucial work the association is doing in Washington and in state capitals across the United States to remove barriers to the deployment of wireless infrastructure.  See TMI Blog States Look To Spur Installation Of Small Cell Wireless Facilities posted 3/16/17.

_____________________________________________

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.

Spring 2017 Telecom Regulatory Seminar and Workshop May 9 - 10 in Maitland, FL

General Registration form available here