Today:  FCC Commissioner O'Rielly's comments at 2017 Wireless Infrastructure Show, FCC NPRM on Restoring Internet Freedom, North Dakota 911 Fees

FCC Commissioner O'Rielly attends 2017 Wireless Infrastructure Show

FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly addressed the Wireless Infrastructure Show held in Orlando, FL on May 23, 2017.  He touched on a number of critical issues at the FCC including:

• The “twilight towers” project – there may finally be resolution to this as the FCC issued the Accelerating Wireless Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Inquiry, WT Docket No. 17-79, FCC 17-38.
• Tower Marking - the FAA Extension, Safety and Security Act of 2016, included a provision that mandates that all towers ranging between 50 to 200 feet meet certain paint and lighting requirements.  Commissioner O’Rielly suggested improvement to this provision include an exemption for communications towers.
• Tower Crews and the Repack –
• Facilities Siting including delays in access to the public rights of way and the escalating costs of the tribal approval process.

FCC Releases NPRM on Restoring Internet Freedom

The FCC proposes ending utility-style regulation of the internet.  It released its Restoring Internet Freedom Notice of Proposed Rulemaking calling this the first step toward restoring internet freedom, promoting investment, innovation, and choice.  Click here to read the FCC’s press release.  TMI Briefing Service subscribers, watch for our upcoming Briefing on the details of the NPRM.

North Dakota 911 Fees

A new law in North Dakota will increase the 911 Fee and the Prepaid Wireless Emergency 911 Fee.  Effective July 1, 2017: (1) each political subdivision’s 911 fee (collected by local exchange carriers, post-paid wireless providers, and VoIP providers) will increase (2) the Prepaid Wireless Emergency 911 Fee will also increase. No changes were made in the billing or remittance of the fees. TMI Briefing Service subscribers see TMI Briefing dated 5/19/17.

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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.