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
At its January 29, 2015, Open Meeting, the FCC voted to update its rules addressing location accuracy on wireless E911 calls to include requirements focused on indoor location accuracy. The new rules are intended to help first responders locate Americans calling for help from indoors, including challenging environments such as large multi-story buildings, where responders are often unable to determine the floor or even the building where the 911 call originated. The rules will require wireless providers to meet indoor location accuracy benchmarks both for horizontal and vertical location information. Recognizing that no single technological approach will solve the challenge of indoor location and that no solution can be implemented overnight, the rules enable wireless providers to choose the most effective solutions and allow time for development of applicable standards, establishment of testing mechanisms, and deployment of new location technology.
Massachusetts
The Department of Telecommunications and Cable will hold a public and evidentiary hearing to investigate the petition of Comcast Cable Communications, LLC to establish and adjust the basic service tier programming, equipment, and installation rates for the communities in Massachusetts served by Comcast Cable Communications, LLC that are currently subject to rate regulation. The hearing will be held on April 22, 2015. Any person who desires to participate in this proceeding must file a written petition for leave to intervene or to participate by April 1, 2015.
Michigan
The PSC will hold a public hearing on a proposed rule revision to a rule governing multiline telephone systems. The rule deals with the responsibilities of multiline telephone system operators regarding the installation of equipment and software necessary to provide specific location information for a 9-1-1 call. The hearing will be on February 12, 2015, at the PSC’s new location – 7109 W. Saginaw Highway, Lansing. Written comments may be submitted no later than March 5, 2015.
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