The California Public Utilities Commission could freeze the state LifeLine specific support amount (SSA) for wireline and wireless providers at $19 until it adopts another method for calculating the SSA, Administrative Law Judge Robyn Purchia said in a Monday ruling in docket R20-02-008. Purchia sought comments on the possible freeze by June 3. Replies will be due June 14. Carriers in January comments resisted a CPUC staff proposal for updating the method (see 2401250051). “We agree with parties’ recommendations to further analyze market conditions, customer impacts, pilot results, and the regulatory landscape,” Purchia wrote. “However, we also see a need to de-link the SSA from the highest [carrier of last resort] basic rate before rates increase again in 2025.”
Multiple telecom and internet bills cleared the Colorado House during the weekend and are on their way to the governor. The House voted 53-7 Saturday in favor of HB-1336 after concurring with Senate amendments. If approved by Gov. Jared Polis (D), the bill will transfer authority for awarding high-cost support to the state broadband office from a broadband deployment board in the governor's IT office (see 2405020016). Also, the House voted 44-16 to pass HB-1334 after agreeing to Senate changes. Polis will next consider that bill, which would prohibit owners of multiunit buildings from denying broadband providers access to install high-speed internet (see 2405010009). In addition, the House voted 61-0 to pass the Senate-passed SB-151, which would require the state’s homeland security division to make rip-and-replace rules for telecom infrastructure equipment that a federally banned entity manufactured. The House didn’t amend the bill, so it will go to Polis next. Last, the House on Sunday approved unanimously a kids’ privacy bill (SB-41) that the Senate passed last month (see 2404240064). Due to House changes, the Senate must vote again on that bill before it can go to the governor.
The West Virginia Public Service Commission granted an AT&T name change as part of a restructuring that will merge affiliate AT&T Corp. into the newly formed AT&T Enterprises, effective May 1. The PSC released the order Friday in case 24-0293-T-NC. AT&T received Idaho's OK the previous day (see 2405030010).
A Minnesota Public Utilities Commission proceeding on revoking LTD Broadband’s eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designation may end, said a Friday agreement among the parties including LTD, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D), the state Commerce Department, the Minnesota Telecom Alliance and the Minnesota Rural Electric Association. The pact to resolve docket 22-221 follows LTD asking to relinquish ETC designation for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) support (see 2405020042). The parties agreed that LTD won’t withdraw that petition and the others won’t oppose it.
Apparently undaunted by tech industry opposition, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed a bill (HB-1891) requiring age-verification for social media use. Lee’s signature wasn’t surprising because he sought legislation requiring parental consent for kids younger than 18 on social networks (see 2403120065). However, NetChoice urged a veto, saying the law wouldn’t survive a court challenge if it were enacted (see 2404300017).
AT&T will get a new certificate of public convenience and necessity in Idaho for its restructuring that will merge affiliate AT&T Corp. into the newly formed AT&T Enterprises, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission said Thursday. Also in the order, the commission required that AT&T Enterprises provide information about how many basic local exchange customers it has and the services it offers, the PUC said.
The Association of American Railroads appealed an ISP access case to the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. The association notified the U.S. District Court for Eastern Virginia about the appeal Wednesday in the district court’s docket 1:23-cv-00815-DJN-WEF. Last month, Judge David Novak dismissed the railroad association’s lawsuit against state officials including Virginia State Corporation Commission Judge Jehmal Hudson (see 2404170052). The railroads disagree with a 2023 state law that gave ISPs access rights to railroad property. The district court rejected each count of the complaint for various reasons, including lack of standing, failure to state a claim and sovereign immunity.
Digital equity and 911 bills passed the Hawaii State Legislature on Wednesday. The House and Senate voted unanimously for the bills after a conference committee reached consensus on final versions. The digital equity bill (HB-2359) would require the state to implement a grant program by Jan. 1. The 911 bill (HB-2339) would remove the term “enhanced” from state 911 law so that Hawaii can fund future emergency-number technologies. The bills next need sign-off from Gov. Josh Green (D).