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.
*Please note The Regulatory Mix will be on hiatus Wednesday, November 26th through Sunday, November 30th for Thanksgiving*
TELECOM
FCC
Connect America Fund
The FCC is seeking comment on how compliance with speed (bandwidth) obligations should be determined for recipients of high-cost support that deploy broadband networks to serve fixed locations. In addition, it asks: (1) whether the same testing methodologies adopted for price cap carriers accepting model-based Phase II support should be applied to other recipients of support to serve fixed locations, such as rate-of-return providers and those that are awarded Connect America support through a competitive bidding process; and (2) the circumstances that should trigger an audit of the speed and latency metrics. Comments are due December 22, 2014.
December Open Meeting
The FCC announced that the following items will tentatively be on the agenda for the open meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 11, 2014:
Modernizing the E-rate Program for Schools and Libraries: A Second Report and Order on Reconsideration to close the school and library connectivity gap by adjusting program rules and support levels in order to meet long-term program goals for high-speed connectivity to and within all eligible schools and libraries.
Connect America Fund Report and Order: A Report and Order finalizing decisions necessary to proceed to Phase II of the Connect America Fund.
Broadcast Incentive Auctions: A Public Notice that asks for comment on the detailed procedures necessary to carry out the Broadcast Incentive Auction. The Public Notice includes specific proposals on auction design issues such as determination of the initial clearing target, opening bid prices, and the final television channel assignment process.
Nevada
The PSC opened a docket to consider the application of the Aging and Disability Services Division of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (“ADSD”) for approval of its State Fiscal Year 2016 budget. The budget outlines the proposed uses of funds collected through the Nevada TDD surcharge. The PUC will also determine in this Docket the amount of the surcharge. Petitions to intervene are due by December 17, 2014. A prehearing conference will be held on January 7, 2015.
