Today:  FCC Releases Latest Form 477 Data, FCC Updates National Broadband Map, FCC Pauses Review of Sprint-T-Mobile Merger, FCC Hurricane Florence, FTC Announces Schedule and Postponement of Hearings 

FCC Releases Latest Form 477 Data

The FCC released updated data on fixed broadband deployment and mobile voice and broadband deployment as of June 30, 2017.  These data were collected through FCC Form 477.  Fixed Deployment Data are available here; Mobile Deployment Data are available here. The June 30, 2017 fixed broadband and mobile deployment data released today includes any revisions made by filers through June 14, 2018. 

For data on fixed broadband deployment, users can download data on the census blocks where providers report offering fixed broadband services to at least part of the block.  These data tables also indicate the technology used to offer the service and the maximum advertised download and upload speeds for both consumer and business fixed broadband services.  The data are available in CSV (comma delimited) format for both the entire United States and for individual states.

For data on mobile deployments, users can download coverage area shapefiles indicating mobile voice and broadband network deployment for each combination of provider and network technology, as well as separate CSV files depicting mobile coverage resulting from two different coverage analyses: centroid and actual area.

FCC Updates National Broadband Map

The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau announced that the National Broadband Map has been updated to include data collected on Form 477 as of June 30, 2017.  With this addition, users will be able to select the date of the data being displayed on the National Broadband Map. As such, users can choose data collected on Form 477 as of June 30, 2016, December 31, 2016 and June 30, 2017.  The Bureau anticipates that it will continue to update the National Broadband Map as more recent Form 477 data becomes available. 

FCC Pauses Review of Sprint-T-Mobile Merger

The FCC told Sprint Corporation and T-Mobile U.S., Inc. that it was pausing its informal 180-day transaction shot clock in this proceeding to allow additional time for thorough staff and third-party review of newly submitted and anticipated modeling relied on by the Applicants.  The clock will remain stopped until the Applicants have completed the record on which they intend to rely, and a reasonable period of time has passed for staff and third-party review.  The FCC will decide whether to extend the deadline for reply comments after receiving the remainder of the Applicants' modeling submissions.  In support of its decision to pause the clock, the FCC pointed to three separate developments: the substantially revised network engineering model submitted by the Applicants on September 5, 2018; the disclosure of, and subsequent filing of,  T-Mobile’s “Build 9” business model on that same day; and T-Mobile’s recent disclosure that it intends to submit additional economic modeling in support of the Applications.

FCC Hurricane Florence

In anticipation of Hurricane Florence making landfall, the FCC released two public notices.  The first notice reminds provider that the FCC is available to address emergency communications needs 24 hours a day, including throughout the weekend, especially relating to the effects of Hurricane Florence as well as impacts from Hurricane Isaac, Hurricane Olivia and Typhoon Mangkhut.  Emergency communications providers, including broadcasters, cable service providers, wireless and wireline service providers, satellite service providers, emergency response managers, first responders, and others needing assistance to initiate, resume, or maintain communications operations are reminded to contact the FCC Operations Center for assistance at 202-418-1122 or by e-mail at FCCOPCenter@fcc.gov.

The second notice announces procedures to help communications services initiate, resume, and maintain operations in the areas affected by Hurricane Florence, as well as impacts from Hurricane Olivia, Hurricane Isaac and Typhoon Mangkhut.  Bureau-specific guidance, including how to obtain special temporary authority from the International,  Media, Wireline Competition, and Wireless Telecommunications Bureaus is included.

FTC Announces Schedule and Postponement of Hearings

FTC Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century kick off on Thursday with session co-hosted by Georgetown University Law Center. 

[Note: The second day of hearings on Friday, September 14 has been postponed due to potential weather-related disruptions]

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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.