Today’s Regulatory Mix: Senator Amy Klobuchar Encouraged About Broadband Talks, Maine Approved First Round of Broadband Infrastructure Grants, Virginia Establishes New E-988 Surcharges and Increases Wireless E-911 Surcharges
Senator Klobuchar Encouraged About Broadband Talks
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar indicated a bipartisan deal on expanding broadband infrastructure looked “very promising.” Her comments followed a recent meeting between Vice President Harris and bipartisan members of the Congress.
Republicans have put forth a $65 billion broadband package, to which she said Democrats and the White House are amenable. “The administration has indicated a willingness to go to where the Republicans are on this front. That’s why this is so exciting,” Senator Klobuchar explained. “We’re actually negotiating and talking about some of the nuts and bolts about why we have this enormous need in our country for broadband.”
Maine Approves First Round of Broadband Infrastructure Grants
Maine Governor, Janet Mills, announced approval of the first round of broadband infrastructure projects funded by the High Speed Internet Infrastructure Bond. The ConnectMaine Board of Directors approved $8,671,323 in grants to 20 projects in 11 counties across Maine. Later this year, ConnectMaine will accept applications for the remainder of the bond funding.
Virginia Establishes New E-988 Wireless Surcharges and increases Wireless E-911 Surcharges
Virginia has enacted Senate Bill 1302 (SB 1302) creating a new surcharge and increasing the existing Postpaid and Prepaid Wireless E-911 fees. Effective July 1, 2021, a new E-988 surcharge to fund the Crisis Call Center Fund (Fund) will apply. The new E-988 surcharge and the E-911 surcharge increases do not apply to wireline or VoIP providers.
Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 5/28/21
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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related 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 an Inteserra Briefing.