Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC to Celebrate 10th Anniversary of the CVAA, FCC Takes Actions for Hurricane Sally, FCC Takes Actions In Response To Wildfires
FCC to Celebrate 10th Anniversary of the CVAA
The FCC announced it will recognize the 10th anniversary of the 21st Century
Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) and its importance in building a more accessible telecommunications world for people with disabilities with a public program on October 8, 2020. During the event, winners of 2020 Chairman’s Awards for Advancement in Accessibility will be recognized for their contributions to the advancement of accessible communications. In addition to the awards ceremony, the event will include a panel discussion on the CVAA’s major milestones and a look at the challenges that lie ahead.
The event will be virtual and can be viewed online at www.fcc.gov/live.
FCC Takes Actions for Hurricane Sally
The FCC has announced activation of its Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) for Hurricane Sally. DIRS is a voluntary, web-based system that communications providers, including wireless, wireline, broadcast, cable and Voice over Internet Protocol providers, and satellite providers can use to report communications infrastructure status and situational awareness information during times of crisis. The FCC requests that communications providers that provide service to any areas listed below expeditiously submit and update information through DIRS regarding, inter alia, the status of their communications equipment, restoration efforts, and power (i.e., whether they are using commercial power or back-up power).
The FCC also provided 24/7 emergency contact information for states impacted by Hurricane Sally.
Finally, the FCC announced procedures for providing emergency communications in states impacted by Hurricane Sally. The procedures to help communications service providers initiate, resume, and maintain operations in preparation for, and in the aftermath of the hurricane.
FCC Takes Actions In Response To Wildfires
The FCC released several documents outlining assistance available to providers operating in states affected by the 2020 Wildfires. First, it announced it is available to address emergency communications needs twenty-four hours a day, including throughout the weekend, especially relating to the effects of the 2020 Wildfires. It reminded emergency communications providers, including broadcasters, cable service providers, wireless and wireline service providers, satellite service providers, emergency response managers and first responders, and others needing assistance to initiate, resume, or maintain communications operations to contact the FCC Operations Center by phone at 202-418-1122 or by e-mail at FCCOPS@fcc.gov.
The FCC also released procedures to help communications service providers initiate, resume, and maintain operations in preparation for, and in the aftermath of, the 2020 Wildfires. Specifically, the document provides guidance on how to obtain special temporary authority from its Wireline Competition, Wireless Telecommunications, International, Media, and Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureaus.
Recent Inteserra Briefings:
FCC RDOF Information Collections Become Effective
FCC Announces Fourth Quarter 2020 USF Factor
____________________________
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.
