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
US Congress
The House Energy and Commerce Committee will begin a markup of the DOTCOM Act, on June 16, 2015. Members will deliver opening statements on Tuesday and reconvene Wednesday morning to consider the bill. The bill was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee on June 10, 2015. See the Regulatory Mix dated 6/11/15.
FCC
The FCC announced that Parul P. Desai was appointed to serve as the Open Internet ombudsperson, the public’s primary point of contact within the agency for formal and informal questions and complaints related to the FCC’s Open Internet rules. See our 2/27/15 Blog; FCC Adopts Net Neutrality Rules. See the Regulatory Mix dated 5/11/15 and 6/12/15. Ms. Desai serves as Assistant Bureau Chief and Director of Consumer Engagement in the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB). As the ombudsperson, Ms. Desai will manage questions or complaints regarding the Open Internet to ensure that small and often unrepresented groups reach the appropriate bureaus and offices to address specific issues of concern. In addition, the Open Internet Order stated that the ombudsperson will work as a point of contact and a source of assistance as needed, not as an advocate or as an officer who must be approached for approval. The Ombudsperson can be reached at: ombudsperson@fcc.gov or 202-418-1155.
Alabama
The PSC declined to further extend its stay of the implementation of its December 9, 2014, Final Order adopting new rules for inmate calling service (ICS). Accordingly, ICS providers must begin implementing the order on July 1, 2015. TMI Regulatory Bulletin Service subscribers see Bulletin dated 6/15/15.
ENERGY
Maryland
The Office of People’s Counsel (OPC) announced that it seeks court review of the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) decision to approve Exelon’s acquisition of Pepco Holdings, Inc. OPC opposes the merger that would “concentrate control of operations for 80 percent of state residential customers into the hands of one corporation.” During its participation in the case before the PSC, OPC developed evidence that showed the utilities’ customers would be worse off following the merger, People’s Counsel Paula Carmody said. “My staff and I have spent the past ten months examining this $6.8 billion transaction,” Ms. Carmody said. “This take-over will have long-term and irreparable consequences for the State, the customers of these two utilities and frankly, customers throughout Maryland.” For more information, click here.
