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.
FCC
Special Access Data Collection
The FCC announced that on October 30, 2014, its Wireline Competition Bureau will host a webinar to provide the public with a high-level overview of the Special Access Data Collection. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask general questions about the Data Collection requirements. The webinar will take place from 11 a.m. to noon using WebEx web conferencing technology. To participate in the webinar, interested entities should send an e-mail to SPADC@fcc.gov by 5 p.m. on October 29, 2014, that includes the attendee’s name, company represented, and e-mail address for sending information to access the WebEx online session. The FCC encourages participants to send the Bureau staff, via an e-mail to SPADC@fcc.gov, written questions in advance of the event. However, participants will have an opportunity to submit questions during the event via the WebEx online session. An archive of the webinar will be posted online.
Comcast/Time Warner Merger
The FCC has suspended the pleading cycles and stopped its 180-day informal time clock in both the Comcast/Time Warner Cable and AT&T/DirectTV merger dockets. The suspensions are due to a dispute over who may view highly confidential carriage agreements submitted by content companies under the terms of the Protective Orders issued in each docket. The FCC said that after it rules on the objections it will issue a Public Notice setting forth new pleading cycles that will provide sufficient time for commenters to review the relevant materials and prepare their comments.
Missouri
The PSC opened a new proceeding to rescind and consolidate many of its rules relating to telecommunications. The PSC finds that the rescission and consolidation is necessary to bring the existing rules into compliance with state and federal statutory changes affecting its jurisdiction over the telecommunications industry. The PSC said that it has discussed the proposed amendments with interested stakeholders and will seek further comments during the rulemaking process as to whether the rescissions and consolidation are appropriate and properly designed and written. In order to avoid any confusion the PSC closed a case opened in April 2014 to examine consolidation and simplification of the rules that govern telecommunications companies and Interconnected VoIP providers. TMI Regulatory Bulletin Service subscribers see Bulletin dated 5/5/14.
