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
Broadband Health Events
The FCC announced that on September 30 and October 1, 2015, its Connect2Health Task Force will travel to Jacksonville and Miami, Florida, to highlight how broadband-enabled health technologies can transform health and care for seniors, children, and people with disabilities. The events will feature FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, and the Connect2HealthFCC Task Force. The trip will also include a site visit to the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Telehealth Command Center to explore a state of the art telehealth operation that could serve as one model for addressing the needs of older Americans and other underserved populations. For the events, the FCC will partner with the Mayo Clinic and AARP. Exhibit space is available for the September 30th consumer event in Miami at no cost for entities who offer broadband-enabled digital health technology solutions dedicated to addressing the health needs of seniors and people with disabilities. A trip agenda, providing additional details about the events will be released at a later date. Details also will be posted on www.fcc.gov/health.
Charter-Time Warner Cable-Bright House Networks Transaction
The FCC announced the members of an inter-bureau steering committee and the working team leaders established to coordinate the agency’s review of merger applications from Charter Communications Inc., Time Warner Cable, Inc., and Bright House Networks, LLC. See the Regulatory Mix dated 6/25/15. Jonathan Sallet, General Counsel, will chair the steering committee that will oversee review of the transaction. Owen M. Kendler will join the Office of General Counsel to lead the working team responsible for the review of the proposed transaction. The working team will report to the steering committee. More information on the merger, including the application documents, can be found on the merger page at https://www.fcc.gov/transaction/charter-twc-bhn.
ENERGY
Pennsylvania
The PUC approved updates to the Technical Reference Manual (TRM), aimed at making the TRM a more effective and professional tool for validating energy savings and providing support for Act 129 of 2008 goals. The TRM is used to assess energy savings attributable to energy efficiency and demand response measures for the implementation of the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act (AEPS Act) and the energy efficiency and conservation provisions of Act 129. Click here for PUC press release.