Top telecom issues set for discussion at NARUC’s annual meeting this week in San Francisco include states’ authority under Communications Act Section 706, 911 reliability, the USF contribution base and municipal broadband, NARUC members said in interviews.
Top telecom issues set for discussion at NARUC’s annual meeting this week in San Francisco include states’ authority under Communications Act Section 706, 911 reliability, the USF contribution base and municipal broadband, NARUC members said in interviews.
Status quo prevailed in 16 of the 17 state regulatory commission races where a winner was clear Wednesday. The Democrats gained one net seat after former New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Chairman Sandy Jones defeated PRC Commissioner Ben Hall, a Republican, by 1,482 votes. The Republicans retained at least 13 seats they held before the election, while the Democrats retained their three seats. The results in one seat on the Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) remained unclear. A Republican is assured of winning the remaining Louisiana PSC seat following a Dec. 6 runoff because both of the candidates -- incumbent PSC Commissioner Eric Skrmetta and energy policy advocate Forest Wright -- are Republicans.
Eighteen seats on 10 states’ public utilities commissions (PUCs) were up for election Tuesday. Industry observers said in recent interviews that the results of elections to the Montana Public Service Commission and Nebraska Public Service Commission are the ones that could have the most impact on telecom regulation. Two Montana PSC seats were up for a vote, and one Nebraska PSC seat was on the ballot.
Eighteen seats on 10 states’ public utilities commissions (PUCs) were up for election Tuesday. Industry observers said in recent interviews that the results of elections to the Montana Public Service Commission and Nebraska Public Service Commission are the ones that could have the most impact on telecom regulation. Two Montana PSC seats were up for a vote, and one Nebraska PSC seat was on the ballot.
An FCC order on circulation would generically ask the agency’s Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service to examine changes to USF contribution methodology without recommending how the group should proceed, said agency and industry officials in interviews this week.
An FCC order on circulation would generically ask the agency’s Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service to examine changes to USF contribution methodology without recommending how the group should proceed, said agency and industry officials in interviews this week.
Broadband download speeds of 10 Mbps, as a draft inquiry signals the FCC wants to be the new benchmark instead of 4 Mbps (WID June 4 p4), were described by experts in interviews as sufficient for most residential Internet uses. A notice of inquiry circulating at the FCC asks about raising the benchmark to 10 Mbps, which some called the new 1 Mbps, although others questioned if the threshold needs to increase.
Broadband download speeds of 10 Mbps, as a draft inquiry signals the FCC wants to be the new benchmark instead of 4 Mbps (CD June 4 p1), were described by experts in interviews as sufficient for most residential Internet uses. A notice of inquiry circulating at the FCC asks about raising the benchmark to 10 Mbps, which some called the new 1 Mbps, although others questioned if the threshold needs to increase.
Amid debates in states nationwide over deregulating the telecom industry, competing bills in Minnesota would take two very different tacks. One, proposed by the Minnesota Telecom Alliance (MTA), would limit the state’s regulatory authority for residential customers to those with a single traditional phone line, a move the state’s AARP said at a state legislative hearing Wednesday would “eliminate any meaningful oversight of the telecommunications industry in Minnesota.” Another bill, proposed by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, would add more regulations on rural call completion. NARUC and other organizations said they did not know of any states that have passed similar measures. Some observers said other legislation addressing rural call completion may follow.