California Public Utilities Commission staff proposed ways to let low-income consumers apply for the state's LifeLine program without providing the last four digits of their social security numbers. In a Friday order in docket R.20-02-008, CPUC Administrative Law Judge Robyn Purchia sought comments on the plan by May 10, with replies due May 24. “This staff proposal recommends revisions to the application, identity verification, and eligibility determination processes to create a defined path for individuals without SSNs to apply for California LifeLine and when qualified, to begin receiving California LifeLine benefits,” said the April 11 plan, which was attached to the ALJ’s order. Consumer advocates in January comments urged the CPUC to make such a policy (see 2401290041).
Virginia legislators rejected the governor’s proposed amendment to a children’s privacy bill. On Wednesday, the Senate voted 19-21 and the House voted 44-56 on the proposed changes to the cross-filed SB-361 and HB-707, respectively. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) had proposed adding language related to the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (see 2404090014). Youngkin didn’t comment Thursday. However, state legislators in both chambers unanimously agreed to adopt Youngkin’s proposed amendments to a pole-attachments bill (SB-713 and HB-800). Youngkin last week said the legislation should allow the Virginia State Corporation Commission to extend the bill’s deadline to resolve pole disputes by up to 60 days (see 2404170065 and 2404090014).
Maine’s privacy bill died after lawmakers tried a second time to pass LD-1977 through the Senate on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, the House approved the bill, but the Senate narrowly defeated it (see 2404170069). Undaunted, the House insisted on acceptance, a procedural move that forces the other chamber to vote again. However, the Senate responded by insisting on rejecting the bill, leaving the bill to die in nonconcurrence. Privacy watchers said LD-1977 was notable for proposing strict data minimization standards (see 2403270045).
Colorado broadband and social media bills passed their originating chambers Tuesday. The House voted 54-7 on Wednesday to pass HB-1336, which transfers authority for awarding grant money from the state’s high-cost support mechanism to the state broadband office from a broadband deployment board in the governor's IT office (see 2404120013). It will go to the Senate. Meanwhile, the Senate voted 30-1 to pass a kids’ social media bill (SB-158) that would require age verification (see 2404160019). Appropriators cleared the measure Tuesday (see 2404160019). It will go to the House.
The Virginia House agreed with governor-recommended changes on a pole-attachments bill (HB-800), voting in favor of the amended measure by a 100-0 margin Wednesday. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) last week said the legislation should allow the Virginia State Corporation Commission to extend the bill’s deadline to resolve pole disputes by up to 60 days (see 2404090014). The Senate has yet to vote on applying that change to its version (SB-713).
Maine’s comprehensive data privacy bill came up short in the state Senate on Wednesday. The bill appeared to fail when senators voted 15-18 on a Judiciary Committee majority recommendation that LD-1977 by Rep. Margaret O’Neil (D) “ought to pass.” The House narrowly passed the bill a day earlier in a 75-70 vote. The bill isn't necessarily dead. When the chambers disagree, Maine's legislative process allows each body to insist on their vote. This forces the other side to vote again. A conference committee could also be requested. Both chambers agreed to kill an alternative bill (LD-1973) by Sen. Lisa Keim (R). The House supported a majority recommendation that the bill “ought not to pass” by a 81-63 vote Wednesday. The Senate voted 18-14 for that recommendation on Tuesday. Privacy watchers said LD-1977 is notable for proposing strict data minimization standards (see 2403270045).
Georgia Public Service Commission elections may go ahead this November, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals said in a Wednesday order. The appeals court stayed a permanent injunction by a lower court that had stopped the 2022 Georgia PSC election. Previously, on Nov. 24, the 11th Circuit reversed the Northern District of Georgia's injunction that stopped Georgia’s secretary of state from administering PSC elections using the statewide, at-large method and from certifying any commission elected using that method. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to take up an appeal of the 11th Circuit decision (see 2404150025). The district court had blocked the statewide, at-large method because it said it constituted unlawful vote dilution under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Price-cap carriers appear to fail state service quality standards, the Nebraska Public Service Commission found. The commission voted 5-0 at its Tuesday meeting to require the carriers -- Windstream, Frontier Communications and Lumen’s CenturyLink to submit reports and corrective action plans. Also, commissioners voted 5-0 to seek comments by May 3, and schedule a May 15 hearing, on a second 2024 NUSF reverse auction that could distribute $18.4 million (docket NUSF-131). A multiyear investigation (see 2311280061 and 2210260052) showed customers "are experiencing significant difficulty in obtaining adequate telephone service” from the three carriers, despite receiving large amounts of Nebraska USF (NUSF) support, said the service-quality order in docket C-5303. The PSC is especially troubled that some carriers “do not appear to have taken steps since the investigation was opened to proactively improve their service,” it added. Fiber cuts comprise only "a small percentage" of recent outages, said the PSC: The rest "appear to result from the carriers’ maintenance and repair practices on their own facilities." It’s likely that the carriers “failed to meet the standard of six trouble reports per one hundred access lines per month, per exchange,” the PSC said. The commission ordered each carrier to submit information by May 31 on how many trouble reports it received in each exchange monthly from November to April. Carriers must identify any exchange averaging eight or more trouble reports per 100 lines in any of those months. By June 28, each carrier "must develop a plan to improve service in" each identified exchange “sufficient to ensure the exchange does not exceed six trouble reports per one hundred lines each month.” In addition, the PSC said it found many customers complained about inadequate customer assistance and missed technician appointments. So, each carrier must develop a plan and report to the PSC on how they improved in those areas by June 28, the commission said. "The plan must ensure customers are able to call and reach a customer service representative familiar with Nebraska’s network and customers." Committed to reliability, Windstream is "reviewing the order and will work with the Commission on any findings," a spokesperson said. CenturyLink disagrees with the order’s conclusions and believes “these reports will show that we’re providing good service to our Nebraska customers,” a Lumen spokesperson said. Frontier didn’t comment.
The connections-based Utah Universal Service Fund (UUSF) surcharge could increase by 27 cents to 98 cents monthly per access line, a 38% increase, the Utah Public Service Commission said in a Monday notice. The increase is needed due to AT&T overcounting access lines subject to the surcharge for nearly two years, from August 2021 to July 2023, the PSC said. After correcting the reporting error, “the actual number of access lines subject to the surcharge have now been reduced by approximately 260,000 per month and thus results in less revenue to meet the costs associated with the UUSF statutory obligations.” Also, UUSF distribution estimates “were significantly underestimated,” the PSC said. “Unless public comment convinces the PSC to alter its plans,” the new rate will take effect July 1. Comments are due June 3.
Frontier Communications must spend $20 million over four years to upgrade internet speeds and infrastructure in North Carolina under a settlement with Attorney General Josh Stein (D), the state DOJ said Tuesday. The carrier also will pay $300,000 in restitution for North Carolina customers affected by slower speeds. North Carolina and other states joined the FTC suing Frontier in 2021 over slow speeds. The federal court in that case dismissed the state’s claims against Frontier while allowing the FTC’s case to proceed (see 2110040066). However, North Carolina continued to negotiate with Frontier to reach a settlement, the AG office said. “We’ve been hearing concerns from Frontier customers for years now, and I’m hopeful that these investments will lead to better service,” said Stein. Frontier didn’t comment.