Today: FCC Chairman Nominated for Another Term, FCC Commissioner Clyburn Statement Regarding Putting #ConsumersFirst, Colorado Rearranges Exchange Boundaries

FCC Chairman Nominated for Another Term

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was renominated to a second five-year term.  He made the following statement: “I am deeply honored to have been nominated by President Trump to serve a second term on the Federal Communications Commission. If I am fortunate to be confirmed by the Senate, I will continue to work with my colleagues to connect all Americans with digital opportunity, foster innovation, protect consumers, promote public safety, and make the FCC more open and transparent to the American people.”  Commissioner O’Rielly issued a statement saying it was “heartening to learn that President Trump has nominated my friend and colleague, Chairman Pai, for a well-deserved new term on the Commission.”  And saying that “[t]ogether, we can achieve much to bring our rules into line with marketplace realities, removing unnecessary burdens on providers – and thus consumers -- while also improving our internal procedures.”

FCC Commissioner Clyburn Statement Regarding Putting #ConsumersFirst

On March 8th, FCC Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn addressed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation regarding “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission.” 

Commissioner Clyburn welcomed the opportunity to share her priorities for "putting #ConsumersFirst." The Commissioner testified that “During my more than seven years as an FCC Commissioner, I have made it my focus to be an advocate for those whose voices far too often go unheard. Consistent with this approach, I would like to share several issue areas I intend to prioritize this year.”

Statements regarding her position on a number of priorities include:

Preserving a Free and Open Internet

“When we talk about the principles underpinning an open Internet, a larger question must be asked. Will there be a cop on the beat in a broadband world? The FCC supports broadband networks with universal service dollars, adjudicates disputes between broadband providers and is paving the way for the transition from a voice world to a broadband world.”

“I believe that the FCC must continue in its present role as protector of consumers and enabler of competition in the broadband ecosystem. If not the FCC, who will consumers turn to when their broadband provider throttles their favorite website? And what if there is a billing dispute? Poor service? Privacy concerns? These questions underlie the many reasons why I strongly supported the Commission’s 2015 Open Internet Order and continue to believe it provides the best legal framework to protect consumers, innovators and entrepreneurs.”

Protecting Consumer Privacy

”Ninety-one percent of Americans feel they have lost control of their information online, according to one report. This is why I supported the Commission’s actions, consistent with the FTC’s privacy framework, to empower consumers to make informed choices about their personal information, and give broadband providers the flexibility to comply with the rules in a manner that works for their company.”

“I was deeply disappointed by the Chairman’s decision to effectively gut one of those rules last week. The outcome of the decision is not relief from purported regulatory burdens. In fact, the providers who sought the stay of the privacy rules used the very text of the FCC’s rule as the basis for their voluntary code of conduct. The real effect here is a lack of recourse for consumers when their personal information is compromised.”

Inmate Calling Reform

“The inmate calling regime is the greatest and most distressing form of injustice I have witnessed in my 18 years as an industry regulator. This past December, I embarked on a 24 day campaign to bring awareness to the benefits of inmate calling reform. The campaign also highlighted some of the egregious practices that keep the generational cycle of incarceration intact, break up families and marriages, and impose financial burdens on families that are least able to afford it.”

“I applaud the leadership of Senators Booker and Duckworth, both of whom introduced legislation in the previous Congress to address inmate calling and video visitation issues. I look forward to working with all interested offices to tackle these important issues during the 115th Congress.”

Commissioner Clyburn’s six page statement included her positions regarding:

• USF Modernization
• Expanding Broadband Infrastructure Deployment
• Improving Broadband Data
• Process Reform
• Digital Inclusion for the Modern Era
• Expanding Deployment of Mobile Broadband
• Connect2Health
• Public Safety
• Enhancing Consumer Protection

In closing, Commissioner Clyburn stated that, “Once again, Chairman Thune, Ranking Member Nelson and Members of the Committee, I want to thank you for the opportunity to present my testimony today and look forward to answering any questions you may have. By working collaboratively, we can ensure that our communications sector remains the envy of the world.”

See full statement here.

Colorado Rearranges Exchange Boundary

The PUC approved the petition of CenturyLink and Nunn Telephone Company to rearrange their exchange area boundaries and to designate Nunn Telephone Company as the provider of last resort.  The applicants said that the changes are being requested because CenturyLink does not have facilities to provide more than basic service to the area and Nunn Telephone believes it can provide service in a more economical manner.  The PUC determined that the revisions to the Ault exchange and the rearrangements will not adversely affect any customer interests or the public switched network. 

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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.