The Regulatory Mix

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

        Lifeline

The FCC extended the dates for filing comments and reply comments on potential changes to its Lifeline rules. Comments are now due August 31, 2015; reply comments are due September 30, 2015.  The due dates had been August 17, 2015, and September 15, 2015, respectively. See our 6/19/15 blog FCC Modernizes Lifeline Program To Support Broadband ServicesTMI Regulatory Bulletin Service subscribers see Bulletin dated 7/2/15.

 

         911 Reliability Certifications

The FCC has clarified that providers required to make annual 911 reliability certifications may implement and certify an alternative measure for any of the specific certification elements.  However, providers using alternative measures must provide an explanation of how such alternative measures are reasonably sufficient to mitigate the risk of failure. This should include an explanation of how the alternative will mitigate such risk at least to a comparable extent as the measures specified in the FCC’s rules.  The new rules take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.  See the Regulatory Mix dated 12/1/14. TMI Regulatory Bulletin Service subscribers see Bulletins dated 1/2/14 and 8/3/15.

 

         Wireless 911 Accuracy

The FCC announced the effective date of its new rules requiring facilities-based wireless providers to meet certain accuracy standards on wireless 911 calls placed from indoors. The rules were approved by the Office of Management and Budget on July 20, 2015, and became effective August 3, 2015.  See the Regulatory Mix dated 2/2/15. TMI Regulatory Bulletin Service subscribers see Bulletins dated 2/23/15 and 8/3/15.

 

ENERGY

Pennsylvania

The PUC announced that Pennsylvania now ranks as the No. 2 U.S. state, behind only Texas, for residential, commercial, and industrial electric competition, according to the 2015 Annual Baseline Assessment of Choice in Canada and the United States (ABACCUS).  “From accelerated switching to our newly redesigned PAPowerSwitch website – there are clear reasons why Pennsylvania continues to shine as a haven for competitive retail shopping,” said Robert F. Powelson, PUC Commissioner and member of the ABACCUS Advisory Board.  “My colleagues and I are very excited to see continued progress with retail offers and new market enhancement programs that are driving further competition in the market.  Further, we are committed in Pennsylvania to maintaining the long-term viability of the marketplace.”

 

 

Regulatory Digest

 

VoIP (Digital Phone) Requirements

 

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