Connecticut regulators will investigate Frontier Communications service quality in response to a Jan. 8 petition by the state Office of Consumer Counsel, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority said in a Tuesday notice (docket 24-01-15). OCC’s petition flagged Frontier problems meeting minimum standards for out-of-service repair and maintenance (see 2401080041).

A Virginia kids’ privacy bill cleared the House Commerce Committee by a 22-0 vote Tuesday. HB-707 would stop data controllers from processing a child’s personal data for targeted advertising, sale or “profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning a consumer” unless it’s “reasonably necessary to provide the online service, product, or feature.” The bill could next go to the House floor.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) backed bills on kids’ privacy and social media addiction, the AG office said Monday. SB-976 by Sen. Nancy Skinner (D) 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. AB-1949 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D) would amend the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to 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 the business’ purpose. Parents would have to provide consent for users younger than 13. “Social media companies have shown us time and time again that for profits, they are willing to harness addictive content to target a vulnerable population: our children,” said Bonta. The bill was rebuked by NetChoice, which last year won a preliminary injunction against California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code (AADC) Act (see 2309190006). “These are the same harmful ideas recycled from California’s AADC,” said NetChoice General Counsel Carl Szabo. “Rather than violate the Constitution, annihilate privacy, and force the government control of families,” California policymakers should craft proposals educating “parents and kids and imprison[ing] predators.”

Verizon may discontinue MCImetro basic local exchange services to about 19 residential customers, the Utah Public Service Commission said in a Monday order (docket 23-095-01).

Similar to several other states, Washington will explore use cases for generative AI in state operations as well as regulatory guidelines. Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signed an executive order Tuesday requiring state agency WaTech to submit a report including a plan for how the government may procure, use and monitor generative AI. “This executive order lays out a year-long process for agencies working together to assess the feasibility, benefits and challenges of integrating this technology into agency operations and services,” Inslee said. “It’s our duty to the public to be thorough and thoughtful in how we adopt these powerful new tools.”

The Wyoming Public Service Commission will designate T-Mobile’s Assurance Wireless an eligible telecom carrier for the limited purpose of providing Lifeline services in the state. At a partially virtual meeting Tuesday, Wyoming commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the company’s Jan. 15 application (docket 17484).

California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) announced an “investigative sweep” of streaming services and devices, alleging they don't comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act’s (CCPA) opt-out requirements for businesses that sell or share personal information of consumers, said a Friday news release. The investigation covers services that don’t offer an easy way for consumers to stop the sale of their data, said the release. The CCPA “secures increased privacy rights for California consumers,” including the right to know how businesses collect, share and disclose their personal information, it said. Under the CCPA’s right to opt out, businesses that sell personal data or share personal information for targeted advertising must give consumers the right to opt out, it said. Exercising that right “should be easy and involve minimal steps,” it added. Consumers using a smart TV should be able to navigate to the settings menu in a streaming service’s mobile app and enable the “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” setting, it said. Consumers’ preference to opt out should be “honored across different devices if they are logged into their account when they send their opt-out request." In addition, consumers should “easily encounter” a streaming service’s privacy policy with their CCPA rights, it said.

Public housing broadband grant recipients should provide free service without government subsidies, the California Public Utilities Commission could soon clarify. The CPUC may vote March 7 on a proposed decision that would adopt changes to the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) broadband public housing account and tribal technical assistance program (docket R.20-08-021). Responding to some commenters’ questions about the public housing program’s no-cost broadband obligation (see 2312140034), the CPUC would clarify that "the Commission’s intent is for BPHA grant recipients to provide broadband service at no cost to residents of the low-income community, without public purpose subsidies or other funding, which is consistent with our determination in Resolution T-17775 that ‘no cost’ means unsubsidized service that is free to customers.” The CPUC rejected a cable industry challenge to that resolution in September, affirming that service the affordable connectivity program subsidizes doesn’t count as free (see 2309010006). In general, the CPUC’s possible changes to the broadband public housing account “expand eligibility for non-publicly supported housing developments and for project costs to facilitate deployment of broadband networks in low-income communities that lack access to free broadband service that meets state standards,” the proposed decision said Monday. Changes to the tribal technical assistance program would align it with the local agency technical assistance program, the CPUC added. In a separate proceeding on utility service affordability (docket 18-07-006), the California Broadband and Video Association warned the CPUC not to expand the proceeding's focus beyond gas, water and electric. ISPs aren’t public utilities, the state cable association said Thursday. “The broadband marketplace continues to be marked by extensive and rapidly increasing competition across a variety of technologies and platforms, which disciplines prices and improves affordability without regulatory price controls.”

The Utah Public Service Commission delayed until Feb. 8 evidentiary and public witness hearings that were planned for this Wednesday on Lumen’s carrier of last resort relief petition, the PSC said Friday in docket 23-049-01. The PSC said it delayed the case after the Utah Rural Telecom Association reported it was talking with Lumen and Utah’s Division of Public Utilities and Office of Consumer Services on a resolution. The parties clashed on a definition of the terms “captive customers” and “functionally equivalent” in prehearing briefs and testimony earlier last week (see 2401260059).

Vermont state legislators could need to step in should the affordable connectivity program (ACP) end soon, the Vermont Community Broadband Board said last week. Losing the ACP would “remove the floor for low-income Vermonters, the most vulnerable of our residents, and require considerable alternative funding to achieve digital equity,” the board’s Executive Director Christine Hallquist said in a Thursday letter to Vermont legislators. The ACP helps 25,000 Vermont residents afford internet, the letter said. “When this program ends, many if not all these families may no longer be able to afford their internet service.” Hallquist noted the board supports a bill in Congress from Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., extending funding through the rest of the year (see 2401100056). But Congress hasn’t approved funding and ISPs are sending customers letters about the program’s possible end, Hallquist said. “We are nearing the time when State action may be required to ensure Vermonters do not suffer from the inaction of Congress. Whether this action requires a temporary, or a more permanent fix, remains to be seen.”