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
FCC
The FCC published a list of all census blocks where price cap carriers have requested funding to serve as part of the second round of Connect America Fund Phase I. The FCC also announced the start of the Phase I challenge process to determine whether or not the requested census blocks are un served. Challenges are due September 27, 2013; responses are due October 28, 2013.
When price cap carriers elected to receive support as part of the second round of Phase I, they were required to submit a list of census blocks where they propose to use the requested support. Interested parties can challenge price cap carriers’ Phase I deployment plans by demonstrating that a block in question is already served by fixed Internet access with the requisite speeds. FCC Public Notice
Iowa
The Iowa Utilities Board scheduled a workshop to allow interested persons and Board staff to discuss certain issues raised in the comments filed in its proceeding considering the future regulation of telecommunications services in Iowa. Issues to be discussed include VoIP and the transition to IP networks, fees for VoIP providers, discontinuance of service to IXCs, and elimination of the statutory provisions addressing alternative operator services. The workshop will be held on September 10, 2013.
Nevada
The PUC has adopted an internal procedure for the annual Order to Show Cause (OSC) process. The process will be the same one used on a trial basis in 2012. The OSC process applies to companies that fail to timely: (1) pay their annual assessment fees; (2) file the required TDD (TRS) reports and/or pay their TDD surcharges; and/or (3) file an annual report. The process includes minimum fines of $500 to $1500. The PUC will also propose changes to its TDD surcharge rule to require quarterly payments as opposed to the current semi-annual reporting and payment requirement.
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