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
US Congress
At its June 10, 2015, hearing, the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee approved the Domain Openness Through Continued Oversight Matters (DOTCOM) Act. The approved bill includes a bipartisan amendment in the nature of a substitute to the originally introduced bill. See the Regulatory Mix dated 6/9/15.
FCC
The FCC has announced the deadline for filing comments and reply comments in its proceeding to make the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) permanent. The NDBEDP, also called “iCanConnect,” provides equipment (such as Braille-enabled devices, magnifiers, and vibrating alerts) to individuals who are deaf-blind for access to communication services. In May 2015, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on proposed rules to make permanent its program that distributes communications equipment to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind. See the Regulatory Mix dated 5/22/15.
Minnesota
The PUC is seeking comment on CenturyLink’s request to discontinue the Minnesota wholesale quality of service plan. Comments should be filed by July 10, 2015; reply comments are due July 30, 2015. On June 1, 2015, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC (CenturyLink) asked the PUC to issue an order discontinuing the Minnesota wholesale quality of service plan adopted in 2003. The Minnesota wholesale quality of service plan is similar, but not identical, to the Minnesota Performance Assurance Plan (MPAP). CenturyLink asserts that all currently operating CLECs have elected to have their relationship with the Company governed by the MPAP rather than by the Minnesota wholesale quality of service plan.
