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
New Hampshire
2012 legislation enacted into law (SB 48) reduced regulation of most telephone service providers. It changed regulation of telephone utilities significantly enough to warrant a comprehensive and extensive revision of the existing PUC 400 rules. SB 48 established a new category of telephone utilities called Excepted Local Exchange Carriers (ELECs). This category includes FairPoint, competitive local exchange carriers, competitive toll providers, payphone providers and any incumbent local exchange carrier that elects to be an ELEC. ELECs do not have to comply with many of the existing laws governing telephone utilities. For instance, ELECs do not have to file tariffs or get approval for special pricing.
Additional legislation (HB 542) was enacted into law in late July 2013 that further amends the PUC’s status and regulatory treatment of VoIP services. As a result of the 2013 legislation, substantial changes to the proposed rules to implement SB 48 are required. In order to have adequate time and opportunity for input from stakeholders, the PUC has requested a 90-day waiver/extension of the requirement to implement revised PUC 400 rules. If the extension is granted, the PUC will vote on the final rule proposal on December 3, 2013
TMI Bulletins to reference on this topic are:
NH Revises Telecommunications Law (SB 48); June 20, 2012
NH Proposes New Voice Service Provider Rules (SB 48); May 20, 2013
NH Upholds Previous VoIP Decision (SB 48); June 4, 2013
NH Law Clarifies Regulation of VoIP (HB 542); August 8, 2013.
New Mexico
The Public Regulatory Commission’s new Institutional Operator Service Provider (IOSP) rules became effective August 15, 2013. However, the Commission agreed to stay the effectiveness of the rule that prohibits IOSPs from billing any per call charge, surcharge, or fee before the second minute of the call begins. IOSPs currently offering institutional operator service in New Mexico have 90 days to submit an expedited application for registration.
Looking for fees and funds that may apply to your company? They can be easily located, by state and fund type, in our Telecommunicatinos Funds Matrix.
Don’t forget that 477 data has to be filed with the FCC on September 1st!
