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
FCC
Text-to-911 Registry
The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau announced the latest update to its Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Text-to-911 Readiness and Certification Registry. The Registry lists PSAPs that are ready to receive text-to-911 messages. It also provides notice to CMRS and other providers of interconnected text messaging services of the date of PSAP readiness. Covered providers must begin routing 911 text messages to requesting PSAPs within six months of the notice date. The updated Text-to-911 Registry reflects information reported to the Bureau since the Bureau’s April 27, 2015, update as well as clarifications to previously submitted information. The Registry is available here.
June Open Meeting
The FCC announced the tentative agenda for its Open Meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 18, 2015, as follows:
Direct Access to Numbers for Interconnected VoIP Providers: The FCC will consider a Report and Order establishing a process to authorize interconnected VoIP providers to obtain telephone numbers directly from the Numbering Administrators, rather than through intermediaries.
Lifeline Reform and Modernization: The FCC will consider a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Order on Reconsideration, Second Report and Order, and Memorandum Opinion and Order to comprehensively restructure and modernize the Lifeline program to efficiently and effectively connect low-income Americans to broadband, strengthen program oversight and administration, and take additional measures to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.
Protecting Consumers Against Unwanted Robocalls: The FCC will consider a Declaratory Ruling and Order reaffirming the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s protections against unwanted robocalls, encouraging pro-consumer uses of robocall technology, and responding to a number of requests for clarity from businesses and other callers.
ENERGY
Pennsylvania
A coalition of local water, gas, and electric utilities, announced that it has joined forces with the Pennsylvania PUC, District Attorneys Association, and Chiefs of Police Association to launch a public awareness campaign about criminals impersonating utility workers to gain access and rob homeowners. Members of the Keystone Alliance to Stop Utility Imposters (a coalition of local water, gas, and electric utilities) joined State Representative Mike Regan at a news conference to announce House Resolution 341 declaring the week of June 8-12, 2015, as “Utility Imposter Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania. To learn more about the Alliance or to read the full Press Release, click here.
