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
Alaska
The Regulatory Commission opened a proceeding to consider a petition asking it to waive its tariff-filing requirements for all local carriers competing in Alaska Communications Systems competitive study areas that have no dominate carrier. The waiver would permit CLECs to detariff their rates, terms, and conditions of service in these areas. The petitioners suggest that the Commission condition the waiver on a requirement that CLECs publish information about their rates, terms, and service offerings on their websites. The request excludes tariff filings related to a provider’s status as a carrier of last resort or that are tied to regulations that impose charges outside the carriers’ control (e.g., Network Access Fees and TRS and regulatory cost charges). Comments may be submitted until August 21, 2014. The Commission intends to will issue a final order no later than January 13, 2015.
Tennessee
The Regulatory Authority issued a Press Release reminding consumers that the new 629 area code overlay permissive dialing period began on July 26, 2014. Mandatory ten-digit dialing will begin on February 28, 2015, and beginning March 28, 2015, the new 629 area code will be assigned. TMI Regulatory Bulletin Service subscribers see Bulletin dated 1/3/14.
The Authority will hold a Workshop on August 11, 2014, to gather input on proposed rules (standards for 2-1-1 service providers) submitted by the 2-1-1 Advisory council. In particular, the Authority said it is interested in hearing about the potential impact of the proposed rules (concerning information and referrals to health, human, and social service organizations) on the smaller 2-1-1 providers in Tennessee.
Washington
Frontier and CenturyLink have each filed a Notice of a Force Majeure Event with the Commission. The state wildfires have destroyed facilities, caused toll isolation to the communities of Brewster, Republic, Bridgeport, and Tonasket; Pateros, Twisp, Winthrop, Omak, and Oroville. New installations are being hampered. The Force Majeure Event began July 18, 2014. Restoration efforts and regular business operations have also been impacted by the widespread commercial power outages due to the fires. The carriers said they are taking steps to restore service as quickly and as safely as possible and will continue to update the Commission.
