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
The FCC has announced the tentative agenda for its November 14, 2013, Open Meeting. Among the items on the tentative agenda are: a Report and Order to improve the reliability and resiliency of 911 communications networks nationwide and an update on universal service reform implementation presented by the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and Office of Native Affairs and Policy. Other items will address foreign investment in broadcast licensees and promoting digital literacy though public-private partnerships.
California
The Public Utilities Commission has scheduled a workshop in the proceeding to revise the certification process for telephone corporations and the registration process for wireless carriers. It will be held on November 19, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. An agenda will be made available before the workshop is held. TMI is monitoring this proceeding.
New York
The Public Service Commission has issued an Order releasing Verizon from the requirement to file a report on the deployment of Voice Link on Fire Island. The PSC made this determination after Verizon’s decision to suspend efforts to offer Voice Link service as an alternative to basic landline service to certain customers on Fire Island where the copper wire facilities were destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. Verizon said that it will offer western Fire Island residents a standard voice service over a fiber network, as well as optional Voice Link service. Verizon will also offer one or more bundled FiOS service offerings that will include FiOS Digital Voice and broadband Internet access.
Background: In May 2013, Verizon filed tariff amendments establishing the circumstances under which it would discontinue its current wireline service offerings and offer its Voice Link wireless service. The PSC allowed Verizon to deploy its Voice Link service in the western part of Fire Island on a temporary basis where the copper wireline facilities were destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. The PSC suspended that portion of Verizon’s tariff that sought to offer Voice Link on a stand-alone basis in other areas of New York. (See TMI Bulletins dated September 16, 2013, and July 8, 2013, for further details about Voice Link service.)
