The CommLaw Group believes that an “informed” client is the very best client. Knowledge is power – the power to predict regulatory trends, to anticipate risks, and to use your knowledge to make adjustments that will help keep your company out of harm’s way. And when our Firm has important or exciting news to announce about developments at our organization, including awards, achievements, hirings and various presentations & webinars, we will share information through News announcements.
November 29, 2021 represented a milestone in the push to reform the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) contribution system by adding revenue from broadband services into the contribution base. 254 organizations representing multiple stakeholders signed a letter urging policymakers to
SPC Token Application Available with Just Over a Week to Implement STIR/SHAKEN The Canadian Secure Token – Governance Authority (CST-GA) released its much-anticipated and long-awaited SPC Token Application. Available only via this direct link, the Application generally tracks what was
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) Commissioner Ian Scott addressed the Canadian Telecom Summit today, highlighting key areas that will likely be the CRTC’s focus over the next year and anticipated updates to the telecommunications and broadband industry in Canada.
On November 5, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Biden administration’s $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Infrastructure Bill), which includes $65 billion for broadband access to improve internet services for rural areas, low-income families and tribal
New York’s Governor signed into law two bills on November 8, 2021 that will require telecommunications service providers in the state to increase robocall protections by requiring STIR/SHAKEN implementation and blocking of calls to certain numbers. The first law codifies
The Public Utility Division of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission recently announced sweeping changes to the Oklahoma universal service fund (“OUSF”) that will immediately impact all communications service providers doing business in the state. At the same time, the Missouri USF
A proposed federal class action filed November 3 against Verizon (MacClelland et. al. v. Cellco P’ship d/b/a Verizon Wireless et. al., No. 1:21-cv-08592 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 3, 2021)) alleges the company ran a “bait-and-switch scheme” to sell consumers post-paid wireless
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced that CA Diffusion entered into a settlement and will pay a $200,000 penalty for violating Canada’s Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules between September 2018 and July 2019 by making non-compliant telemarketing calls. The CRTC
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a “Fourth Tranche of Enforcement Bureau Cease and Desist Letters” (Letters) against three network providers in an attempt to show the regulator has not turned a blind eye to bad actors. The letters and
Telecommunications Service Providers (TSPs) registered with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to provide voice services but currently ineligible (because they lack access to Canadian Numbering Administrator resources) to obtain Service Provider Code (SPC) Tokens received more good news
Telecommunications Service Providers (TSPs) in Canada may soon have access to Secure Telephone Identify (STI) Certificates—necessary for higher (Level A or B) attestation—once the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) acts on a report (Report) by the Canadian Secure Token
In a recent interview with TransNexus, a leading developer of software solutions to protect and manage telecom networks, CommLaw Group’s managing partner, Jonathan Marashlian, shares his thoughts on the increasingly expansive and diverse scope of regulatory and legal compliance obligations
On September 29, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission” announced that Pluto Inc. (“Pluto”) and its parent company, ViacomCBS Inc. (“ViacomCBS”), entered into a Consent Decree with the FCC, settling the Enforcement Bureau’s investigation of allegations that Pluto
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) required voice service providers (VSPs) to implement STIR/SHAKEN by June 30, 2021 on internet protocol (IP) portions of their network and file certifications on implementation status with the FCC via the Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD)
Bandwidth.com, a major SIP Trunk and 911 service provider, recently experienced an outage that disrupted services, including 911 services, starting September 25. Bandwidth.com continues to experience outages, affecting service resellers and potentially triggering compliance obligations before the Federal Communications Commission
You are cordially invited to join The CommLaw Group at the 2021 Telestrategies Communications Tax Conference being held in Nashville from October 11th– 13th! CommLaw’s Managing Partner, Jonathan Marashlian, will deliver the keynote presentation alongside fellow Washington, D.C. telecom attorneys, Brita
The Federal Communications Commission released a public notice on September 10, 2021, announcing the proposed Universal Service Fund (“USF”) contribution factor for the fourth quarter of 2021 will be 29.1%, a nearly 2% decrease from the previous quarter’s 31.8%. At
WASHINGTON, September 14, 2021—The Universal Service Fund (“USF”), a critical component in ensuring the expansion of broadband in the United States, is under significant duress. But now they are strong signs that change is in the offing. Because the revenues
TIME-SENSITIVE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE NOTICE: Annual Regulatory Fees Payable to the Federal Communications Commission Due No Later than September 24, 2021 Most Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) licensees and other regulated entities must pay regulatory fees annually to offset costs
A Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision requires all Telecommunications Service Providers (TSPs) offering and providing telecommunications services in Canada must implement STIR/SHAKEN to authenticate and verify caller identification information for Internet Protocol (IP)-based voice calls by November 30,
