Several California bills crossed chambers Tuesday. The Assembly voted 47-15 to pass AB-1826, which updates the state’s 2006 cable law, the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act. The bill would increase fines for service-quality problems and aims at increasing participation of the public and its advocates in the franchise renewal process (see 2404250036). The Assembly voted 71-0 for AB-2765, which would require the California Public Utilities Commission to report on inspections that ensure companies comply with resiliency plans. The body also voted unanimously for AB-2905, expanding the state’s autodialer definition to include calls made with an AI voice. On the privacy front, the Assembly voted 50-14 for AB-2930 to set rules for automated decision-making technology, including requiring impact assessments and disclosures to consumers. The same chamber voted 58-0 for AB-1949 to amend the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to additionally stop businesses from collecting, using, sharing or selling personal data of anyone younger than 18, unless they get consent or if it’s absolutely needed for business purposes. The state’s Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta backed the bill (see 2401300049). In addition, the Assembly voted 50-10 to pass AB-1791, which would require social media platforms to delete personally identifiable information, called provenance data, from uploaded content. In the Senate, the vote was 38-0 in favor of SB-1223, which amends the CCPA to include “neural data” as a type of sensitive personal information. And senators voted 34-0 to pass SB-1504 to tighten a cyberbullying law that requires social platforms to have reporting mechanisms (see 2404230039). Also, the Senate voted 30-9 to approve SB-1460, which would require a group to develop model contract provisions for telecom sector apprenticeships.

A new state task force will develop procedures and best practices for cable and utility outage notifications, the West Virginia Public Service Commission said Wednesday. The task force will first meet June 14. It must make final recommendations to the PSC in 60 days, the agency said. The PSC decided to make the task force after receiving information about current notification procedures by Altice, Frontier Communications and several utilities, according to the order in case 24-0338-G-W-E-CTV-GI. “The respondents use varying methods such as door hangers, telephone calls, e-mails, text messages, website, and/or social media posts to notify customers of outages.”

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed two broadband bills, the Democrat’s office said Wednesday. Polis signed HB-1334 to prohibit owners of multiunit buildings from denying broadband providers access to install high-speed internet. Also, Polis signed HB-1336 to transfer authority for awarding high-cost support to the state broadband office from a broadband deployment board in the governor's IT office. Polis said his state is “moving closer to connecting 99% of Coloradans to affordable, high-speed broadband.”

Frontier Communications operates “nationally in a ‘one-size fits all’ manner with no regard for state regulations or rules," Communications Workers of America (CWA) claimed in Tuesday comments at the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). PURA received comments from Frontier and the Office of Consumer Counsel in its service-quality investigation (docket 24-01-15) on Friday (see 2405200053). CWA raised concerns about job cuts, customer service issues and employee grievances during the past several years. “While there is currently a significant effort to deploy fiber … there has been much negligence as it relates to copper plant,” the union said: “The use of contract labor has created inferior service issues resulting in the need for second and follow-up visits by skilled technicians” and fewer job openings. PURA should “act swiftly to hold Frontier accountable to … Connecticut.”

Nevada will spend $250 million on a middle-mile network, Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) said Tuesday. The planned network will be open-access and 2,500 miles long, the governor’s office said. “This significant investment will enhance internet connectivity in communities across Nevada that have struggled with inadequate internet access.”

New York state’s comprehensive privacy bill advanced Tuesday. At a livestreamed Senate Internet and Technology Committee meeting, a majority of the seven-member panel supported sending S-365 by Consumer Protection Committee Chair Kevin Thomas (D) to the Finance Committee. One member voted no and another voted “aye without recommendation.” The privacy bill passed the full Senate last year, but because the Assembly didn’t consider it in 2023, the bill returned to the Senate Jan. 3 (see 2402060028). The panel also advanced a bill (S-4377) requiring websites that collect Social Security numbers to post “clear and conspicuous notice on the homepage … about its privacy policy.” Nobody voted no on that bill, though one member supported it without recommendation. It will go to the floor.

An objector to Consolidated Communications’ deal with Condor Holdings withdrew from the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission’s review in docket DT 23-103. New Hampshire Electric Cooperative said Monday that it entered into a confidential settlement with Consolidated “that addresses NHEC’s concerns with neither party admitting any fault or wrongdoing.” The co-op earlier complained that Consolidated didn’t devote enough resources to its joint-use poles relationship with NHEC. Charter Communications last month sought conditions on Consolidated’s transfer of indirect ownership and control of its local subsidiaries to Condor, a subsidiary of private equity firm Searchlight (see 2404290007).

Two California social media bills advanced through their originating chambers Monday. The Senate voted 35-2 to pass a bill (SB-976) by Sen. Nancy Skinner (D) that would provide social media controls for parents, including the ability to decide whether their children see a chronological news feed or one based on an algorithm, the current default. Also, the bill would let parents stop social media notifications and block access to platforms overnight and during the school day. Attorney General Rob Bonta (D), who had proposed the bill (see 2401300049), applauded Senate passage in a statement. “Our children and teens are experiencing a public health crisis, caused by social media companies in their thirst for profits,” said Bonta. “In California, we take mental health seriously, we take children’s online safety seriously -- and we know that we don’t have a minute to waste to protect our kids.” The Assembly voted 65-0 for AB-3172, which would make big social media platforms liable for damages and other legal remedies “if the platform fails to exercise ordinary care or skill toward a child.” It goes next to the Senate, while SB-976 goes to the Assembly.

Minnesota will prohibit junk fees through legislation that Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed Monday. The governor signed HB-3438, which passed the legislature last week (see 2405160033). CTIA had opposed the bill for not exempting the wireless industry. The law will require that the full price of a product, including all mandatory fees, is disclosed at the start of the transaction and in ads. “This bill is going to protect Minnesotans’ bottom line, provide clarity for consumers, and ensure companies aren’t using deceptive practices to rip their customers off,” said Walz. CTIA declined to comment.

Idaho’s telecom relay services surcharge will increase 2 cents, to 7 cents per line, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission said Friday. The PUC kept the current long distance rate at one-tenth of a cent per minute. “This allows the per minute rate, which appears to be contributing to the fund in a sustainable manner, to remain unchanged while taking a measured step toward sustainability by increasing the per line rate to $0.07,” the Idaho PUC said.