NARUC To Address CSRIC IV, Net Neutrality, Lifeline Broadband at Meeting

NARUC will consider resolutions commending FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council IV recommendations, calling for action on net neutrality and on designations for Lifeline broadband services, at its summer meeting July 12-15 in New York City. The resolution urging congressional action on the open Internet would encourage Congress to pass legislation upholding the FCC order as outlined by NARUC resolutions, said Washington Utilities and Transportation Commissioner Philip Jones in an interview Wednesday. Previously, NARUC backed open Internet rules as they are, minus Communications Act Title II reclassification of broadband, Jones said. The CSRIC resolution aims to commend the work that working group IV did to enhance cybersecurity risk management in the communications sector, said Jones, a sponsor of the resolution and former NARUC president. He said it doesn’t encourage states to do anything yet, but it’s the beginning of a “deeper conversation.” The third resolution urges the FCC to refrain from disrupting the existing federal-state partnership in the provision of Lifeline services by pre-empting the authority of states to designate eligible telecom carriers for the provision of advanced telecom services. Jones said that the net neutrality resolution shouldn't be all that controversial because it's only asking Congress to act, but the resolution about Lifeline broadband services could have some "robust discussion." A "lot of people haven't read the full order that they [the FCC] approved last month and there will be concerns about cost," he said of Lifeline. "I think a lot of [state public utility] commissioners will be concerned [whether] the cost of this program will be at the expense of other programs."