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
Today the FCC voted (3-2) to adopt rules to protect the #openinternet. In the Commission’s press release today, “the Commission – once and for all – enacts strong, sustainable rules, grounded in multiple sources of legal authority, to ensure that Americans reap the economic, social, and civic benefits of an Open Internet today and into the future. These new rules are guided by three principles: America’s broadband networks must be fast, fair and open – principles shared by the overwhelming majority of the nearly 4 million commenters who participated in the FCC’s Open Internet proceeding.”
Commissioners Pai and O’Rielly cast the 2 dissenting votes, both restating many of the criticisms they released in statements several weeks ago. See our Blog article dated 2/10/15 and the Regulatory Mix dated 2/12/15.
The actual text of the Order will not be available right away. Watch for TMI’s upcoming Blog that will summarize the highlights for our readers. As the text of the FCC Order is released, we will be issuing detailed Bulletins for TMI’s Regulatory Bulletin Service subscribers.
COMPTEL
In a statement issued by COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering, COMPTEL commended the FCC for ensuring an open Internet, “by prohibiting blocking, throttling, paid prioritization and unreasonable discrimination that would prohibit consumers from obtaining the online content, applications and services of their choice. Our broad membership – which includes top Internet companies, over-the-top providers, Internet backbone operators, wireless and enterprise service providers – praise the Commission for its strong action and clear commitment to the innovation, investment and pro-growth policy for an open Internet.” See COMPTEL’s entire release here.
Colorado
The “emergency” Automatic Location Information (ALI) rule adopted by the PUC in 2014 expired on February 23, 2015. TMI Regulatory Bulletin Service subscribers see Bulletin dated 8/5/14. It has been replaced by an identically worded “temporary” rule effective on February 23, 2015. The temporary rule will remain in effect until “permanent” rules become effective or for 210 days, whichever period is less. The temporary rule requires PUC approval of the offering or provision by any provider of new or different ALI services in Colorado. ALI services currently provided by CenturyLink through its vender, Intrado, do not need to obtain additional PUC approval to offer service pursuant to the temporary rule.
Pennsylvania
The PUC authorized the telephone charge residents in Delaware County pay for their local 911 system. The contribution rate of $1 per telephone line remains unchanged.
