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
Colorado
The PUC seeks comments regarding distributions from the Colorado High Cost Support Mechanism to eligible providers of basic services consistent with legislation enacted in 2014. The legislation added conditions to a carrier’s eligibility to receive distributions to support basic services, namely that high cost funding may support basic services only in areas without effective competition for basic services. The statute says: In order to accomplish the goals of universal basic service … the commission shall create a system of support mechanisms to assist in the provision of basic service in high-cost areas that are without effective competition for basic service … except that support provided in a particular geographic support area is not affected until the commission makes a finding applying the factors listed in Section 40-15-207. (emphasis added) The PUC believes that the amount for each support area to be distributed each year until it determines under section 207 whether the area is without effective competition for basic service is the same amount as was distributed to eligible providers in 2014. Comments and/or motions to intervene are due by March 30, 2015.
New York
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the launch of #Broadband4All, a campaign to rally support for his New NY Broadband Program proposal, which will ensure that every New Yorker has access to high-speed Internet service by the end of 2018. As part of the campaign, the Governor unveiled a new website, ny.gov/BroadbandForAll , which provides New Yorkers with more information about the issue and encourages them to become involved. Additionally, members of the Governor’s administration are continuing to visit communities across the state to present the proposal in regions with some of the greatest broadband needs.
ENERGY
Missouri
The PSC approved a joint application filed by Marshall Municipal Utilities (MMU) and Central Missouri Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CMEC) to amend a territorial agreement between the two electric providers. The amendment will allow MMU to provide electric service to a new structure (a horse arena) located at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri, even though the structure is located within CMEC’s service area. The PSC concluded “that the Amendment, which amends the Territorial Agreement between Central Missouri and Marshall is not detrimental to the public interest and should be approved.”
