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Vol. 11, No. 17May 4, 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
TOP OF THE NEWS
W100K BIKE RIDE
AT THE FCC
RURAL CALL COMPLETION
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
COMPTEL PLUS VIDEO AND AUDIO ARCHIVES

Did you miss some of the sessions at the COMPTEL PLUS Business Expo 2015 in Orlando last month?   Are you interested in what the newsmakers in the Hub had to say?

If so, you can now download slides and audio files from select sessions and watch videos from the Hub, by visiting the COMPTEL PLUS website.

MEMBER NEWS












For more information about submitting member company news, please contact Gail Norris.
FCC DEADLINES

July 1
July 22
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Diamond Rio publicity shot

 
TOP OF THE NEWS
House Holds Hearing on FCC Reauthorization
On April 30, the House Energy & Commerce Committee's Communications and Technology Subcommittee held a hearing on "FCC Reauthorization: Improving Commission Transparency." Witnesses were FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioner Mike O'Rielly.

In conjunction with the hearing, Democratic members of the House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee unveiled a package of draft legislative proposals that it believes will keep the FCC fast, efficient and transparent.
  • A draft bill offered by Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) would require the FCC to report quarterly to Congress and to post on the FCC website data on the total number of decisions pending categorized by Bureau, the type of request, and how long the requests have been pending. The report also includes a list of pending Congressional investigations and their cost to the agency. 
  • Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) is sponsoring the FCC Collaboration Act, which will allow three FCC Commissioners to collaborate more effectively.
  • A draft bill offered by Rep. David Loebsack (D-IA) that would require the Chairman to post the Commission's internal procedures on the FCC website and update the website when the Chairman makes any changes.
  • A draft bill offered by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) would require the FCC to coordinate with the Small Business Administration and issue recommendations to improve small business participation in FCC proceedings.
Following the hearing, COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering sent a letter to Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Eshoo expressing COMPTEL's desire to work with the subcommittee on targeted legislation that will provide transparency, certainty and increased governmental efficiencies, and urging it to continue its bipartisan work, as it has done in previous process reform legislation.
W100K 

COMPTEL CEO Participates in Bush Center's W100K Ride Benefiting Wounded American Veterans
Last week COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering joined President George W. Bush for the annual W100K bike ride that honors the sacrifice and military service of American men and women who have been wounded in combat around the globe. The 100-kilometer mountain bike trek across the deserts of Texas raised money and awareness for organizations that support America's veterans.

"It's an honor to ride alongside America's heroes. Their sacrifice and courage continues to inspire our nation," Pickering said. "COMPTEL would like to thank and commend President Bush, and the Bush Center, for their ongoing commitment to our American veterans, who have sacrificed on behalf of the freedom we all enjoy. These riders may have been wounded, but they have never fallen."
AT THE FCC
FCC Announces Agenda for May Open Meeting 
The FCC last week announced its tentative agenda for the Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2015, 10:30 a.m. at FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C.  These items include:
  • Accessible Emergency Information: The Commission is expected to consider a proposal to extend accessibility rules for emergency alerts to "second screens," including tablets, smartphones, laptops, and similar devices. The Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would take additional steps to make emergency information in video programming accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
  • Extend and Make Permanent 'iCanConnect' Program: The Commission is expected to consider an Order to extend the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program and consider a Proposed Rulemaking to permanently extend the program. The program provides up to $10 million annually from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service Fund to support programs that distribute communications equipment to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind.
AT&T, SNET to Pay $10.9 Million for Overbilling Lifeline
To resolve an investigation by the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, AT&T and its former subsidiary Southern New England Telephone (SNET) have agreed to pay $10.9 million in penalties for overbilling the FCC's Lifeline program, which helps ensure low income consumers have access to a phone line. 

An FCC investigation showed that AT&T and its affiliates failed to keep proper records and de-enroll landline customers who did not submit timely recertifications of eligibility. As a result of these failures, the companies overbilled the Lifeline program. The $10.9 million in penalties resulting from these settlements is in addition to the refund payments that the companies have previously made to fully reimburse the Lifeline program for ineligible customers.
RURAL CALL COMPLETION
Video from Verizon Workshop Now Online 
On April 22, Verizon hosted a workshop on rural call completion. If you missed the workshop, videos of the two panels - Discussion of Technical Causes of Rural Call Completion Issues and Discussion of Strategies and Best Practices - can be found on the Verizon website. 
COMMITTEE MEETINGS 
All COMPTEL Committee meetings are held at the association's headquarters, 1200 G St NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20005, unless otherwise noted.  All times listed are Eastern. For more information, call 202-296-6650.

May 5               Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy

May 12             Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting 
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy
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