Release of the FCC net neutrality order brought limited clarity to how the rules and the commission’s accompanying reclassification of broadband as a Communications Act Title II service will affect state telecom regulation, state telecom lawyers and observers said in interviews last week. That lack of clarity largely stems from continued uncertainty about whether the net neutrality rules -- and particularly Title II reclassification -- will survive legal scrutiny, lawyers said. Alamo Broadband and USTelecom filed lawsuits Monday seeking reviews of the net neutrality order at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, respectively (see 1503230066). The order faces continued scrutiny on Capitol Hill (see 1503200048).
Telecom deregulation advocates are following up recent successes in four states that passed statutes deregulating aspects of wireline and VoIP services by renewing their push for passage of similar legislation in the Idaho and Minnesota legislatures. Both states are considering bills that would prohibit VoIP regulation: Idaho’s S-1105 and Minnesota’s HF-776/SF-895. Minnesota is also considering HF-1066/SF-736, legislation that would let ILECs be regulated the same as CLECs. None of those bills advanced as far as statutes that passed or were enacted in Kentucky, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Thirty-two states deregulated wireline service by the end of December, while three others and the District of Columbia significantly limited wireline oversight, said National Regulatory Research Institute Principal Researcher Sherry Lichtenberg.
Telecom deregulation advocates are following up recent successes in four states that passed statutes deregulating aspects of wireline and VoIP services by renewing their push for passage of similar legislation in the Idaho and Minnesota legislatures. Both states are considering bills that would prohibit VoIP regulation: Idaho’s S-1105 and Minnesota’s HF-776/SF-895. Minnesota is also considering HF-1066/SF-736, legislation that would let ILECs be regulated the same as CLECs. None of those bills advanced as far as statutes that passed or were enacted in Kentucky, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Thirty-two states deregulated wireline service by the end of December, while three others and the District of Columbia significantly limited wireline oversight, said National Regulatory Research Institute Principal Researcher Sherry Lichtenberg.
The revolving door rotates freely in government public relations. At just one federal agency with about 1,700 total employees, at least 14 public relations experts and lawyers who advise on issues including PR came or left during the Obama administration. Careers of PR practitioners exiting the FCC since about Jan. 21, 2009, spanned the gamut. Some job changes resembled the traditional revolving door, with officials leaving for the industries their employer used to regulate, others were so-called reverse revolvers coming to the agency from entities that lobbied the FCC, while other career paths were less orthodox and don't fall under the revolving door rubric at all. That is according to Communications Daily Freedom of Information Act requests, other records and interviews with those who reviewed our database.
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.