|June 29, 2021
 

Today’s Regulatory Mix: FCC Announces July Open Meeting Agenda, Idaho PUC Approves Broadband Tax Credit, Nevada Law Allows Voluntary Contributions for Broadband

 

FCC’s July Open Meeting Agenda 
The FCC announced its tentative agenda for the July 13 Open Commission Meeting: 

  • Securing Communications Networks  – The Commission will consider a Third Report and Order that would amend the rules for the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program consistent with modifications adopted by Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.  The item would also clarify certain aspects of the Reimbursement Program. 
  • Enabling State-of-the-Art Radar Sensing Technologies in the 60 GHz  Band – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing revisions to Section 15.255 of the rules governing short range radar operations in the 64-71 GHz frequency band.   
  • Updating Technical Rules for Radio Broadcasters – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to eliminate or amend outmoded or unnecessary broadcast technical rules.   
  • Updating International Filing Requirements for the Digital Age – The Commission will consider an Order that would amend rules to require the remaining applications and reports to be filed electronically in the International Bureau Filing System and eliminate duplicative paper filing requirements. 
  • Enforcement Bureau Action – The Commission will consider an enforcement action. 

Idaho PUC Approves Broadband Tax Credit 

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved an application submitted by Direct Communications Rockland, Inc. seeking a broadband tax credit for equipment purchases made in 2020.  As required under Idaho Code § 63-3029I, the installed equipment is capable of transmitting signals at rates that exceed the required rates of 200,000 bits per second to a subscriber and 125,000 bits per second from a subscriber.  According to the PUC, the company’s expenditures of almost $4.2 million were indeed spent on “qualified broadband equipment.”  The company estimates 90% of its Idaho customers have access to its broadband network. 

Nevada Law Allows Voluntary Contributions for Broadband 

Governor Stephen Sisolak (D.) has signed into law a bill enabling customers to make voluntary contributions to broadband infrastructure as part of their monthly bill.  Contributions will be distributed to the Office of Science, Innovation, and Technology (OSIT) to administer infrastructure grants to support the expansion of broadband. The new law further instructs OSIT to collect and map data on broadband access speed in each county and submit a report to the governor and the legislature. The bill also directs OSIT to establish a Broadband Ready Community Certification program to advance the expansion of broadband infrastructure to underserved communities. 

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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.