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 Briefing.
TELECOM
FCC
November Open Meeting
The FCC announced the tentative agenda for its November 19, 2015, Open Meeting. The following items are tentatively on the agenda:Wireless Emergency Alerts: The FCC will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would improve the effectiveness of WEA message content and the geographic targeting of WEA messages and facilitate WEA testing and proficiency training.
Hearing Aid Compatibility: The FCC will consider a Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would update the scope of the wireless hearing aid compatibility rules and seek comment on additional measures that would ensure greater deployment of hearing aid compatible wireless handsets.
Accessibility of User Interfaces: The FCC will consider a Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to provide consumers with better information about the availability of accessible devices and features and create easier access to video programming and closed captioning on devices.
Broadcast Incentive Auction
The FCC announced that its Incentive Auction Task Force, in conjunction with the Media and Wireless Telecommunications Bureaus, will host a public workshop on the reverse auction application process on November 17, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Topics to be covered include a review of the pre-auction process and guidance on how to complete and submit the Form 177, including an overview of ownership requirements, channel sharing agreements, and the red light rule. The workshop will also be streamed live at www.fcc.gov/live. During the event, those watching the live video stream may email event-related questions to auction1001@fcc.gov. The FCC also reminded potential auction participants that the period for filing an application to participate in the reverse portion of the Broadcast Incentive Auction will begin at noon on December 1, 2015, and close on December 18, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. ET. Applications must be submitted prior to the close of the filing period.
ENERGY
Illinois
In a news release issued yesterday, Exelon said it will defer its decision on Clinton nuclear plant for one year. Exelon plans to bid the plant into the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) capacity auction for the 2016-2017 planning year. This follows the MISO statement saying reforms to its capacity market process may be required to drive future investments and help ensure a reliable electricity supply for consumers, and it plans to engage stakeholders to consider such reforms.
