The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of 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 Regulatory Bulletin.
TELECOM
US House of Representatives
Four members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have asked the FCC to provide them with additional information about funding, distribution, and reform efforts in the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) by September 3, 2013. The information requested includes:
- A state-by-state list of total disbursements of USF support for each of the four USF programs for 2010, 2011, and 2012, including: (i) an estimate of net contributor states and net recipient states; and (ii) a listing of the top ten recipients of high-cost support by state for 2010, 2011, and 2012.
- An updated list of states that have a state-wide universal service fund and a brief explanation of the basis for contribution and what the fund supports.
- A state-by-state list of competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (CETCs) receiving Lifeline funding and the names of such CETCs grouped by holding company, including notations concerning Lifeline-only CETCs that have notified the FCC they are not facilities-based providers.
- A timeline of all Commission and Bureau level decisions needed to implement the rules adopted in the USF/ICC Transformation Order and Lifeline Reform Order and the progress the FCC has made to meet those deadlines to date. Read the full letter here
FCC
On August 1, 2013, the President nominated Michael P. O’Rielly to become a Commissioner at the FCC. Mr. O’Rielly would fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Commission McDowell and would serve for the remainder of Mr. McDowell’s term, which expires June 30, 2014. FCC Acting Chairwoman Clyburn and FCC Commissioners Pai and Rosenworcel issued statements congratulating Mr. O’Rielly on his nomination.
The FCC also released the official agenda for its August 9, 2013, Open Meeting. As reported previously, it includes consideration of a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to reform interstate inmate calling services rates and practices (WC Docket No. 12-375). The agenda also includes: a Report and Order addressing technical requirements applicable to unlicensed services in the 57-64 GHz frequency band to provide additional competition in the broadband market, improve efficient delivery of broadband services in residences and businesses, and facilitate backhaul transport to support the deployment of 4th Generation (4G) and other wireless services; a Report and Order that streamlines Part 25 of the FCC’s rules to facilitate greater investment and innovation in the satellite industry and promote more rapid deployment of new satellite services to the public; and a presentation by the Incentive Auction Task Force on progress towards the Commission’s 2014 television broadcast incentive auction.
