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.
WELCOME 2014!
TELECOM
FCC
The FCC has begun the process of obtaining Office of Management and Budget approval for the information collection requirements contained in its rural call completion rules. See the Regulatory Mix dated December 19, 2013 and October 29, 2013. TMI Regulatory Bulletin Service subscribers see FCC Bulletin dated December 17, 2013 and November 13, 2013. The FCC estimated that: its rules will require filings by 225 entities; the average filing will take 12 hours; the total annual burden will be 11,280 hours; and that the total annual cost will be $793,750.
Comments may be filed by February 28, 2014, addressing the following:
- whether the proposed collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the FCC, including whether the information has practical utility;
- the accuracy of the FCC’s burden estimate;
- ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected;
- ways to minimize the burden of the collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and
- further ways to reduce the information burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees
Colorado
An Interim Decision identifies the issues in the Commission’s consideration of effective competition areas and the classification of basic local exchange service for the evidentiary hearing set for January 7 and 8, 2014. Specifically, cross-examination shall focus on the following two issues, in the context of the 56 wire centers that are the subject of this proceeding:
- Whether wireless services are substitutes for basic telephone service. Included within this issue are whether wireless services are reliable and whether reclassifying basic service on, at least in part, the availability of wireless services promotes the public interest.
- Whether bundled, packaged, and stand-alone pricing for telecommunications services are comparable, and whether reclassifying basic services on, at least in part, bundled and packaged offerings promotes the public interest.
Nevada
The PUC amended its rules governing the remittance of the telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDD) surcharge. The amendment requires telecommunications carriers to submit surcharge payments and reports not later than January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31 of each year. The amended rule became effective December 23, 2013. TMI Regulatory Bulletin Service subscribers see Nevada Bulletin
dated December 27, 2013.
Oregon
Effective December 20, 2013, the PUC amended its Oregon Telephone Assistance Program (OTAP) rules. The new rules replace the temporary rules in place since June 2013 and are intended to conform the OTAP rules to the FCC’s Lifeline rule changes. The PUC declined to adopt the proposed rule that would have prohibited the use of agents to solicit potential eligible low-income customers. Instead, it will open an investigation to determine if rules are necessary to address marketing abuses. TMI Regulatory Bulletin Service subscribers see Oregon Bulletin dated December 26, 2013.