Staff Subcommittee on Telecommunications

Closed Session – States Issues Updates & Planning

Networking Break

Current Issues:  Reports from NARUC

• Litigation Report - Brad Ramsay, NARUC
• Legislative Report - Brian O'Hara, NARUC

Joint Board & NRRI Reports

• Separations - George Young, Vermont
• Universal Service - Labros Pilalis, Pennsylvania
• 706 Joint Conference - Bill Johnston, California
• NANC - Carolee Hall, Idaho
• NRRI - Sherry Lichtenberg

Subgroup Reports

• Consumer Issues - Kerri DeYoung Phillips, Massachusetts
• Cyber Security - John McClain, Department of Homeland Security
• Federal Regulation & Legislation - Joe Witmer, Pennsylvania
• Numbering - Bonnie Johnson, Minnesota
• State Regulation - Robin Ancona, Michigan
• Technology & Service Quality - Teresa Ferguson, Colorado

Panel I:  Business Data Services - Is the “Long-Broken”               Regulatory Regime Fixed?

After first opening a proceeding in 2004, a long awaited order, rules, and further proposed rulemaking have been circulated by the FCC Chairman with a proposed “fix” to the regulatory regime that governs the multi-billion dollar market for Business Data Services (BDS). Previously labeled “special access,” these enterprise services enable dedicated network connections for mobile phone service backhaul, large businesses, governments, and community anchor institutions.  This panel will explore whether or not the new framework will indeed support new and emerging competition through “light handed” and “targeted” regulation and whether additional regulatory adjustments are necessary.

Moderator: Sherry Lichtenberg, NRRI

Panelists:  
Lisa Hensley Eckert, Director of Public Affairs, CenturyLink

Mike Skrivan, VP Regulatory, Fairpoint Communications

Pam Hollick, Associate General Counsel, State Public Policy, Level 3

Roy Lathrop, Senior Director, State Government Affairs, NCTA

Panel II:  Network Reliability/Outages – The State Experience

The rapid explosion of wireless, I/P and other technologies has created an incredible variety of voice, data and video communications capabilities, but only through a highly complex web of interconnected networks and services.  These intertwined networks and services have introduced significant new challenges for policy makers, regulators, and telecom companies in ensuring public safety and consumer satisfaction through end-to-end network reliability, outage reporting and consumer communications. This panel of State PUC Staff experts will discuss the issues being faced in their states, whether recent FCC efforts have been successful and what more could be done between government and industry to address the issues.

Moderator: Lynn Notarianni, Colorado

Panelists:
Bill Johnston, California

Cullen Robbins, Nebraska

Rebecca Beaton, Washington

Closed Executive Session

Working lunch for Committee and Staff Subcommittee members only

Welcome and Introductions

Hon. John (Butch) Howard, Subcommittee Chair - South Carolina 

Approval of Minutes

Commission Chair Roundtable Update

Presenter: Michelle Malloy, Sr. Director of Meetings and Member Services, NARUC

NRRI Update

Presenter: Rajnish Barua, Executive Director, NRRI

Certificate of Continuing Regulatory Education (CRRE) Update

Review certificate criteria, marketing materials, and enrollment statistics, as well as discuss strategies going forward.  Written report provided by:

Presenter: Jan Beecher, Director, Institute of Public Utilities, MSU

Update on Subcommittee Projects

• 2017 Summer Internships (NARUC)
• New Commissioner Regulatory Orientation
• Other

Presenter: Erin Hammel, Director, International Programs, NARUC

Review of Applications for Support

• Online training concept (Univ. of Tulsa application)
• Applications for Consideration

Presenter: Erin Hammel, Director, International Programs, NARUC

Scholarships Report

Presenter: Sue Daly, Chair, Staff Subcommittee on Education and Research

ICER

Presenter: Hon. Jack Betkoski, III, Vice Chairman, Connecticut