Today’s Regulatory Mix: FCC Commissioner Simington Says Net Neutrality Likely on Agenda, Florida PSC and FTRI Seek to Improve Services for Speech and Hearing Impaired, Hawaii PUC Further Extends COVID Related Prohibition on Disconnections
FCC Commissioner Simington Says Net Neutrality Likely on Agenda
Addressing the Free State Foundation on Tuesday, FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington lauded the 25th anniversary of the Telcom Act of 1996, though acknowledged ongoing issues facing Congress. “We can’t talk meaningfully about freedom, free markets, or deregulation in telecommunications without mentioning net neutrality. In my confirmation hearing, I said that I believed in a light touch regulatory regime. Title II net neutrality can have a light or a heavy touch. As it is likely to be back on the agenda this year, I think we need to get serious about what different approaches may mean.”
Florida PSC and FTRI Seek to Improve Services for Speech and Hearing Impaired
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) and Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc. (FTRI) discussed ways to improve access to telecommunication services that are made available to citizens with speech or hearing disabilities. FTRI is a non-profit organization which assists consumers with specialized phone needs. In a statement released by the PSC, Commissioner Andrew Giles Fay said “With COVID 19 impacting how all of us communicate, the need for better telecommunication services is even more apparent for those with disabilities.”
Hawaii PUC Further Extends COVID Related Prohibition on Disconnections
The Public Utilities Commission of Hawaii (PUC) has extended its order prohibiting disconnections and other COVID-19 related consumer protections. With this latest extension, the PUC now prohibits late fees and interest on late payments. Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 2/12/21.
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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.