http://www.lojlaw.com A Washington, DC-based law firm specializing in telecommunications, Internet, new media and technology matters. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2010/02-09-10_Comcast-NBCU.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2010/02-09-10_Comcast-NBCU.pdf On January 28, 2010, Comcast and GE filed a much anticipated application with the FCC seeking approval for Comcast to purchase NBC Universal. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2010/02-01-10_Net_Neutrality_Comments.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2010/02-01-10_Net_Neutrality_Comments.pdf In one of the biggest public filings in the history of the FCC, parties flooded the Commission with comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Preserve the Open Internet – the so-called “Net Neutrality” proceeding. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2010/01-13-10_NBP_Extension_Request.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2010/01-13-10_NBP_Extension_Request.pdf On January 7, 2010, Chairman Julius Genachowski formally asked the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for an extension to March 17, 2010, to deliver the final National Broadband Plan to Congress. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/11-23-09_Wireless_Tower_Siting.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/11-23-09_Wireless_Tower_Siting.pdf On November 18, 2009, the FCC issued a Declaratory Ruling addressing issues related to State and local government review of applications for placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/10-26-09_Network_Neutrality.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/10-26-09_Network_Neutrality.pdf In its October 22, 2009, Open Meeting, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on proposed rules designed to preserve the open Internet. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/10-26-09_Access.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/10-26-09_Access.pdf In connection with its development of the National Broadband Plan, the FCC released a Public Notice seeking comment on the impact that access to second and middle mile transport services and facilities has on broadband deployment and availability. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/10-09-09_Smart_Grid.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/10-09-09_Smart_Grid.pdf The National Institutes of Standards and Technology is seeking comments on the NIST Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Release 1.0 (Draft), which provides a high-level reference model for the deployment of Smart Grid standards and technologies. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/09-28-09_Net_Neutrality.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/09-28-09_Net_Neutrality.pdf Pledging to maintain a “free and open Internet,” FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has proposed a plan for adopting net neutrality principles into codified rules. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/09-08-09_Regulatory_Fees.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/09-08-09_Regulatory_Fees.pdf FCC annual regulatory fees for the 2008 fiscal year must be paid by September 22, 2009. An entity’s fee is based on its 2008 revenues as reported on FCC Form 499-A. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/08-18-09_NTIA_Mapping_Rules.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/08-18-09_NTIA_Mapping_Rules.pdf The National Telecommunications and Information Administration recently announced that it is changing its data-collection rules for broadband mapping efforts in response to concerns expressed by companies and industry groups. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/08-18-09_Section_706_NOI.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/08-18-09_Section_706_NOI.pdf On August 7, 2009, the FCC released its sixth Notice of Inquiry pursuant to Section 706 of the 1996 Telecom Act, asking whether advanced telecom capabilities are being deployed to all Americans in "a reasonable and timely fashion." . http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/08-18-09_NBP_Senior_Staff.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/08-18-09_NBP_Senior_Staff.pdf On August 4, 2009, Chairman Genachowski announced several senior staffers who will work on developing the National Broadband Plan as part of the Omnibus Broadband Initiative. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/08-18-09_Baker_and_Clyburn_Staff.pdf Newly confirmed FCC Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn announced her staff including Michelle Ellison to lead the Commissioner’s transition efforts and Renée Roland Crittendon to serve as Chief of Staff and Senior Legal Advisor. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/08-03-09_Five_Commissioners.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/08-03-09_Five_Commissioners.pdf Democrat Mignon Clyburn of South Carolina was sworn in August 3, 2009, as the fifth FCC Commissioner. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/06-17-09_ARRA_Lobbying_Restrictions.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/06-17-09_ARRA_Lobbying_Restrictions.pdf Late last month, the Obama Administration announced changes to its guidelines governing oral communications with government officials regarding particular projects, applications, or applicants for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/06-08-09_Rural_Broadband_Report.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/06-08-09_Rural_Broadband_Report.pdf On May 22, 2009, FCC Acting Chairman Michael J. Copps submitted to Congress Bringing Broadband to Rural America: Report on a Rural Broadband Strategy, as required by the 2008 Farm Bill. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/06-04-09_Broadband_Stimulus_Funding.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/06-04-09_Broadband_Stimulus_Funding.pdf The National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Rural Utilities Service recently posted “milestone” reports to www.recovery.gov regarding their respective broadband stimulus grant programs. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/05-14-09_LNP_Porting_and_VoIP_Discontinuance.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/05-14-09_LNP_Porting_and_VoIP_Discontinuance.pdf In a win for cable VoIP providers and wireless carriers, the FCC adopted a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking at yesterday’s Open Meeting that reduces to one business day the maximum time for porting a customer’s telephone number from one service provider to another when the port involves a “simple” wireline to wireline or intermodal port (e.g., wireline-to-wireless, wireline-to-cable VoIP). http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/05-14-09_LNP_Porting_and_VoIP_Discontinuance.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/05-14-09_LNP_Porting_and_VoIP_Discontinuance.pdf On May 13, 2009, the FCC adopted a Report and Order that extends to fixed and nomadic Interconnected VoIP providers the streamlined discontinuance procedures of part 63 of the FCC’s rules, which currently apply to non-dominant telecommunications carriers. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/05-05-09_VoIP.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/05-05-09_VoIP.pdf On May 1, 2009, the Eighth Circuit released an order affirming a U.S. District Court decision to issue a preliminary injunction against enforcement of Nebraska’s Universal Service Fund Act, which requires providers of nomadic interconnected VoIP services, such as Vonage, to pay into the state’s intrastate universal service fund. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/05-05-09_FTC_Red_Flag_Extension.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/05-05-09_FTC_Red_Flag_Extension.pdf On April 30, 2009, the Federal Trade Commission (announced that it will again delay enforcement of the “Red Flag Rules” until August 1, 2009, giving creditors and financial institutions additional time to develop and implement the written identity theft programs as required by the Rules. The FTC also announced that it will soon release a written template to assist creditors and financial institutions in complying with the Rules. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/04-28-09_FTC_Red_Flag.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/04-28-09_FTC_Red_Flag.pdf Federal Trade Commission enforcement of all provisions of the “Red Flag Rules” will begin May 1, 2009, concluding a six-month window of delayed enforcement granted by the agency to provide creditors and financial institutions additional time to develop and implement the written identity theft prevention programs required by the Rules. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/04-02-09_FCC_Broadband.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/04-02-09_FCC_Broadband.pdf In further implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Federal Communications Commission intends to take up at its April 8, 2009, Open Meeting a Notice of Inquiry concerning the Commission's development of a national broadband plan. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/04-02-09_BTOP_Meetings.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/04-02-09_BTOP_Meetings.pdf The National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service wrapped up the last of six public meetings last week addressing the broadband initiatives created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to be implemented by NTIA and RUS (with some FCC coordination). http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/02-24-09_NTIA.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/02-24-09_NTIA.pdf On February 24, 2009, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced that beginning March 2, 2009, it will conduct meetings with parties interested in participating in the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the State Broadband Data and Development program created by the Broadband Data Services Improvement Act of 2008. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/02-18-09_Smart_Grid.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/02-18-09_Smart_Grid.pdf Yesterday, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. As part of the roughly $505 billion in spending programs and $282 billion in tax relief and incentives, the Act allocates billions to the Department of Energy for projects designed to upgrade the nation’s electric grid, including investments in advanced energy facilities, Smart Grid and related technologies. President Obama is expected to sign the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law today at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The bill passed by votes of 246-183 in the House of Representatives and 60-38 in the Senate last Friday. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/02-17-09_Stimulus_Legislation.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/02-17-09_Stimulus_Legislation.pdf Economic stimulus legislation advanced last week with passage of separate measures by the Senate Appropriations and Finance Committees, while the full House of Representatives voted to pass the House’s stimulus bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/02-02-09_Stimulus_Legislation.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/02-02-09_Stimulus_Legislation.pdf The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, introduced January 15, 2009, by the House Committee on Appropriations, includes $5.65 billion for grants to fund wireless and broadband infrastructure deployment. http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/01-22-09_Recovery_Act.pdf http://www.lojlaw.com/Whats_New/2009/01-22-09_Recovery_Act.pdf