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 Briefing.
TELECOM
FCC
EAS System
The FCC announced the date for filing comments and reply comments in its proceeding considering revisions to its rules regarding the Emergency Alert System (EAS). See the Regulatory Mix dated 1/29/16. Comments are due May 9, 2016; reply comments are due June 7, 2016. The proposed revisions are intended to strengthen the EAS by facilitating state and local involvement, supporting greater testing and awareness of the system, leveraging technological advances, and enhancing EAS security.
Competition in the Video Marketplace
The FCC’s Media Bureau announced that on April 25, 2016, it would hold the second of two workshops to examine competition, diversity, and innovation in the video marketplace. See the Regulatory Mix dated 3/14/16. The workshop will explore marketplace obstacles that affect the provision of independent and diverse programming to consumers. A more detailed agenda will be released in the future. The workshop is open to the public. The live broadcast can be viewed at www.fcc.gov/live.
National Call 811 – Safe Digging Month
April is National Safe Digging Month. Click here to see the 811 event calendar of some local events throughout the country. Many States/Commissions have/will issue reminders of the importance of digging in a safe, responsible way by calling 8-1-1 before you dig.
Connecticut
The Public Safety and Security Committee sponsored a bill to establish regional emergency telecommunications centers and reduce operating costs. If a public safety answering point (PSAP) serves a population of less than 40,000 or receives and processes less than 12,000 9-1-1 calls on an annual basis, it could become part of a regional emergency telecommunications center. Grant funding would be available to subsidize operating costs associated with transitioning an existing PSAP to a regional emergency telecommunications center. Beginning July 1, 2020, any PSAP that serves a population of less than 40,000 or receives and processes less than 12,000 9-1-1 calls on an annual basis and is not part of a regional emergency telecommunications center would not be eligible to receive certain funds and would be required to reimburse the Office of State-Wide Emergency Telecommunications for expenses the office incurs as a result of supporting and maintaining such PSAP. (A regional emergency telecommunications center would be defined as an entity authorized by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection as a PSAP that is responsible for receiving and processing 9-1-1 calls for at least three municipalities and either serves a combined population of 40,000 or more or receives and processes 12,000 or more 9-1-1 calls on an annual basis.)
