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.
The Regulatory Mix will be on hiatus from December 24, 2014 through January 4, 2015 for the Holidays.
We wish you a Merry Season and a Happy New Year!
TELECOM
CDC/NHIS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics released the preliminary results from the National Health Interview Survey on wireless substitution for January–June 2014. The survey indicates that: (1) 44% of homes are now mobile-only, an increase of 3 percentage points since the second half of 2013; and (2) more than one-half of all adults aged 18-44 and of children under 18 were living in wireless-only households. Watch for our upcoming blog with more details from the survey.
California
The California PUC announced in a press release that it has opened access to broadband grants available through the California Advanced Service Fund (CASF) to public housing communities. The PUC’s action adds a fourth account to the CASF program called the Broadband Public Housing Account which is dedicated to increasing broadband access and adoption in publicly supported communities. The CPUC will award up to $20 million in grants and loans to finance up to 100% of project costs to install inside wiring and network equipment, but not to maintain or operate the network in publicly supported housing communities. Reimbursable expenses include all networking equipment; low voltage contracting; modems or routers; engineering and design; and hardware warranty. The CPUC also will award up to $5 million in grants and loans to reimburse 85% the costs of education and outreach efforts and materials; printers; routers; provision of technical support; and digital literacy instructors. The CPUC is accepting applications immediately on a rolling basis, with the first deadline on January 15, 2015.
Connecticut
Connecticut has announced that 46 municipalities, representing 50% of the state’s population, have joined the effort for Connecticut to lead the nation as the first gigabit state through public-private partnerships.
“With this effort, Connecticut cities are again where they have been in other turning points in our country’s history: ahead of the curve and well-positioned to reap the benefits of the information age economy.” Blair Levin, Executive Director of Gig.U (a consortium of over 30 leading research university communities seeking to accelerate the deployment of next generation networks across the U. S.).
A Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) was issued last September seeking information and dialogue with interested parties to increase access to ultra-high-speed gigabit networks in a consortium of municipalities throughout Connecticut while simultaneously reducing the cost of such networks for businesses, high-tech industry, universities, homeowners, and other users. Respondent proposals are due by 11 am EST January 13, 2015, and must be filed with The City of New Haven purchasing department which is administering and coordinating the RFQ for the municipalities. (Use the link above for more information concerning the RFQ.)
Michigan
The Michigan PSC announced that it has moved to its new location – 7109 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing, Mich. Flood damage caused the MPSC to move to temporary locations since July 2011. Note: Email addresses remain the same; the mailing address remains the same: P.O. Box 30221, Lansing, MI 48909; and new phone numbers are listed here.
“This move reunites all MPSC-related staff at one location,” said MPSC Chairman John D. Quackenbush. “The Commissioners, MPSC staff from all divisions, administrative law judges and attorney general staff will once again be located at one site, making it easier for the many people who interact with the MPSC.”
