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 York
The PSC said that in response to a request from the Department Staff, the period for review of the Comcast Corporation – Time Warner Cable, Inc. transfer of control has been extended. The PSC will consider this matter at its October 2, 2014, regularly scheduled meeting. The schedule for public comments has also been extended: Initial Comments are due August 8, 2014, and Reply Comments are due August 25, 2014.
FCC
Net Neutrality
The FCC announced that, as of 4 p.m. on Friday July 18, 2914, it had received 1,062,000 public comments in its Net Neutrality/Open Internet proceeding. Reacting to this news, Chairman Wheeler said in part: “We asked the public a fundamental question: What is the right public policy to ensure that the Internet remains open? We are grateful so many Americans have answered our call…There is no question the Internet must remain open as a platform for innovation, economic growth and free expression. Today’s deadline is a checkpoint, not the finish line for public comment. We want to continue to hear from you. “
August Meeting
The FCC announced the tentative agenda for its open meeting scheduled for August 8, 2014. It includes the following:
1. Part 17 Antenna Structure: A Report and Order to streamline and update the rules governing the construction, marking, and lighting of antenna structures. These updates will improve efficiency, reduce regulatory burdens, and enhance compliance with tower painting and lighting requirements, while continuing to ensure the safety of pilots and aircraft passengers nationwide.
2. Enabling Nationwide Text-to-911 Service: A Second Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that: establishes deadlines for covered text providers to be capable of delivering texts to appropriate 911 public safety answering points; and seeks comment on potential improvements to current text-to-911 technology, such as through better location information.
Level 3/tw telecom
The FCC established a comment cycle for its consideration of the Applications filed for the transfer of control of tw telecom inc. to Level 3 Communications, Inc. Comments are due August 18, 2014; replies are due September 2, 2014. The applicants assert that the proposed transaction will not impact competition for local exchange and interstate services because their respective operating subsidiaries have focused on different segments of the enterprise market for these services and compete against many incumbent and competitive carriers. They also commit to comply with the existing network security agreement between Level 3 Parent and the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice.
