Today:  FCC Small Wireless Deployment Declaratory Ruling, FCC CAF II Auction, Florida PSC Petitions FCC for Waiver of Lifeline Rules for Hurricane Victims,  Mississippi PSC Charges Telemarketers Over $2 Million in Fines 

                                                                                                                          HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2018!    

FCC CAF II Auction (Auction 903)

The FCC has identified the 134 applicants in the Connect America Fund Phase II auction (Auction 903) that submitted the long-form application portion of the FCC Form 683 by the October 15, 2018 deadline.  Winning bidders had the opportunity to assign some or all their winning bids to one or more related entities.  The FCC released a spreadsheet identifying the long-form applicants and lists the number of census blocks and locations, as well as the support amounts, by state, associated with each applicant.   Where applicable, the winning bidder that assigned bids to the applicant is also identified. It also lists the eligible census blocks associated with each long-form applicant.

FCC Small Wireless Deployment Declaratory Ruling

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Declaratory Ruling and adopted new rules to facilitate the deployment of wireless infrastructure.  The Ruling also provides guidance on whether and in what circumstances aesthetic requirements, undergrounding requirements, and minimum spacing requirements violate the Act.  For detailed information, see Inteserra Briefing dated 10/24/18. Need information regarding our Briefing service? Click here.

Florida PSC Petitions FCC for Waiver of Lifeline Rules for Hurricane Victims

The FL PSC filed a petition with the FCC seeking a temporary waiver of the FCC’s Lifeline Rules for subscribers affected by Hurricane Michael in Florida.  The PSC requested a temporary waiver of the FCC’s Lifeline nonusage and recertification rules for subscribers residing in the Affected Counties.  The deenrollment of eligible subscribers from the Lifeline program during this emergency would subject already vulnerable Lifeline subscribers to unnecessary endangerment resulting from the termination of essential communications services to which they have willfully subscribed.  Granting the FPSC’s waiver request would ensure that the affected subscribers have continued access to communications services during this difficult time, as they attempt to rebuild their lives, find new housing, and mourn the loss of their loved ones and friends.

Mississippi PSC Charges Telemarketers Over $2 Million in Fines

Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley announced that the PSC has charged six telemarketers for violating Mississippi’s NoCall law.  The PSC’s investigation found that these companies made 336 illegal calls to Mississippians.  Should these entities be found to have violated the No-Call law, they are subject to a $5,000 per call fine; totaling $2,350,000. 

Presley encouraged Mississippians to download the PSC’s new smartphone app, which can be found by searching “PSC No-Call” in the iTunes App Store or Google Play Marketplace. The app allows citizens to immediately report calls to the PSC from their cell phones. Also, landline phones can be registered at www.psc.state.ms.us or by calling Commissioner Presley’s office at 1-800-637-7722.

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 The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s 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 an Inteserra Briefing.