Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released its latest Biennial Report to Congress (the “Report”), assessing industry compliance over the past two years with sections 255, 716, and 718 of the Communications Act of 1934, as required by the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (“CVAA”). These sections require telecommunications and advanced …
On October 17, 2020, President Trump signed S. 2661 — the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 (the “Act”). In addition to codifying the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) designation of 9-8-8 as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number, the Act clears the path for imposing 9-8-8 fees on carriers. It does so by prohibiting …
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (“The Act of 1996”) moved to break up telecom monopolies by requiring local exchange carriers to allow their rivals use of individual (or “unbundled”) network components to reach customers. In the twenty-four years since then, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has repeatedly scaled back the unbundling requirements where telecom competition …
On Friday, October 9th, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) upheld existing rules governing when private telecommunications lines must contribute to the federal Universal Service Fund (USF). Mixed use private phone lines will continue to be assessed for USF contribution under the so-called “10% Rule” first established in 1989 and most recently affirmed by the FCC’s …
On October 6th 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a draft Order on Remand (“Draft Order”) responding to the DC Circuit’s remand in Mozilla Corp. v. FCC, which ordered the FCC to review the effect of the Restoring Internet Freedom Order (“Freedom Order”) on (1) public safety, (2) the regulation of pole attachments, and …
Draft Order on Remand: Review of the Restoring Internet Freedom Remand Order Read More »
As we approach the end of 2020, certain manufacturers, vendors and service providers should be gearing up to comply with the requirements of RAY BAUM’s Act, starting on January 6, 2021. Under the FCC’s rules, new installations of fixed multiline telephone services (“MLTS”), telephone services and VoIP must be capable of transmitting “dispatchable location” information …
On Wednesday, September 30th, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously agreed to implement changes to the review process that foreign telecommunications companies undergo before doing business in the USA. The changes, first proposed via an Executive Order on April 4th, formalize and streamline the existing ad hoc system of review. The DOJ, DHS, and AG …
Maybe we say it too often around here and it loses its impact (you know, “the boy who cried wolf” effect), but we’ll throw caution to the wind and just say it again — the upcoming webinar co-hosted and sponsored by the Cloud Communications Alliance and Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC, The CommLaw Group, really is …
The attorneys of Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC, The CommLaw Group’s USAC Compliance, Audit Preparation and Defense practice cordially invite you to attend a webinar sponsored and hosted by TeleStrategies! USAC Audits – Surviving the Regulatory Meat Grinder Learn the “in’s and out’s” of the USAC Audit process. Learn how your company can not only survive …
Will my Customers’ lawful calls get blocked by the Big Carriers (AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink, Comcast, T-Mobile, and others) thanks to the STIR/SHAKEN robocall mitigation regime (a regime the Federal Communications Commission is largely putting into the hands of the very same Big Carriers)? Is there anything my Company can do between NOW and June …
