The Texas Public Utility Commission plans to vote Nov. 30 on a sweeping update to Texas Chapter 26 substantive telecommunications rules, the PUC said Tuesday. Industry sought several edits in comments last month (see 2310300036). A modified staff proposal in docket 54589 would agree with Windstream and the Texas Telephone Association about national broadband map information that a provider must submit to show continued need for Texas USF support. The PUC would agree with their recommendation that the map cited must have been in effect for at least 90 days before the application was filed, so as to avoid the time crunch of having to use the FCC’s November map update for an application due by year-end. The commission would reject Verizon’s suggestion to eliminate a requirement that companies show they comply with commission rules before administratively granting name change requests. And it would disagree with Verizon that the PUC lacks authority to regulate telecom carriers’ stock sales, mergers and acquisitions. The PUC would agree with Verizon’s recommendation to clarify that a deregulated company with a certificate of authority, or an exempt carrier, isn't required to provide information for discontinuing optional services.

Lumen’s CenturyLink takes 911 responsibilities seriously, a spokesperson said Monday in response to a Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission order last week. The commission denied the carrier’s reconsideration petition to reverse about $1.32 million in fines and a conclusion that CenturyLink was liable for a Dec. 2018 outage that resulted in at least 13,000 dropped or incomplete 911 calls (see 2308150061). The Washington UTC also denied a separate reconsideration petition by the state attorney general’s public counsel seeking a much larger fine of about $13 million. “Neither petition for reconsideration convinces us that any of the findings and conclusions in [the commission’s order] were erroneous,” the UTC said in docket UT-181051. “Lives literally depend on the ubiquitous ability of callers to access first responders, police, and medical personnel in the event of an emergency,” so “we are particularly demanding when reviewing the reasonableness of the actions CenturyLink took or did not take to comply with the statutes and rules that govern the provision of that service.” And the commission said it properly calculated the penalty. Lumen fully cooperated with the state probe, the company’s spokesperson said. "These issues are always concerning and are our immediate priority.” The spokesperson wouldn't say if the carrier would appeal further.

The Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband has developed drafts of the state’s plans to "connect all Marylanders to high-speed internet and achieve digital equity" and is seeking comments on the drafts by Dec. 2. Feedback will be used to update the plans before they are submitted to the NTIA, according to a Monday news release. “High-speed internet access is an essential tool for Marylanders to succeed, providing the opportunities to participate in your community, apply for jobs and receive important information,” Gov. Wes Moore (D) said. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities sought comment Monday on both volumes of its draft initial proposal for BEAD. Comments are due Nov. 29 on volume one and Dec. 8 on volume 2, the board said. It also sought comment on a digital equity draft plan by Nov. 30.

Colorado has a plan to tackle broadband workforce obstacles by 2027, state offices on broadband and the future of work said Monday. The broadband office sought comment by Nov. 27 on the workforce plan. “To build a resilient telecommunications and construction workforce, Colorado will build on its existing infrastructure and workforce development strengths, while raising awareness and embedding telecommunication-specific information and efforts,” the plan said. Also, the state plans “to develop industry-led sector partnerships and support locally driven workforce development efforts,” it said.

The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) asked for comment by Dec. 15 on its Internet for All Plan (see 2310260040). “Now that our planning documents have been drafted, we want to hear from you,” said a Tuesday release: “MBI is collecting input from residents of Massachusetts to make sure we got the plan right. Your input is crucial during this public comment period as we want to understand your experiences and how we can enhance them to meet the needs of all Commonwealth residents.”

LTD Broadband asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to remove its proceeding on revoking the company's eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designation from its Nov. 16 meeting in a letter Monday (see 2310110055). LTD cited an order on circulation at the FCC regarding its application for review of its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I application." If the FCC dismisses or denies the AFR, LTD will review that decision and decide whether to seek further review or to cease prosecuting its RDOF long-form application," the company said. LTD also asked that the proceeding be "deferred until after the FCC has acted."

Expect more states to weigh privacy bills in 2024, the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) said in a privacy report Thursday. “We appreciate states pushing ahead with privacy protections due to the lack of federal action to establish baseline privacy rules,” but federal legislation is still needed, said CCIA State Policy Director Khara Boender. In 2023, 37 states introduced more than 140 privacy bills, the CCIA report said. Most states enacting privacy laws this year had Republican legislative majorities, marking a change from previous years, it added.

The Michigan Public Service Commission approved $1.42 million for wireless call routing for next-generation 911 across the state Thursday. The commission approved five invoices for reimbursement from Peninsula Fiber Network Next Generation Services (case U-14000). The PSC paid the invoices with revenue collected by a monthly 911 fee on telephone bills.

The California Public Utilities Commission will have a Dec. 4 prehearing conference on a Verizon application to discontinue local exchange service to California residents and small businesses, Administrative Law Judge Seaneen Wilson ruled Thursday in docket A.23-10-002. The virtual meeting starts at 11 a.m. PST. Verizon applied Oct. 2 to discontinue LEC “service and related bundled offerings of local and interexchange voice services to residential and small business customers” across California starting Dec. 31. Verizon said that would affect 3,469 residential customers, including 466 low-income users on California LifeLine, and 202 small-business customers. Verizon would transfer customers to AT&T or a different provider chosen by the customer. Verizon would continue to provide service to large business and enterprise customers, it said. AT&T cautioned Monday that it “will be faced with a potentially time-intensive mass migration project” that can’t be completed by Dec. 31 when Verizon seeks to disconnect. AT&T estimated implementation would take at least 10 weeks from CPUC approval. The Utility Reform Network sees deficiencies in the carrier’s customer notification plans, TURN said Monday at the CPUC. The application lacks detail on AT&T’s services and doesn’t discuss multilanguage or accessible-format notifications, it said. “Ensuring that these customers receive meaningful and accessible notice may mitigate migration problems and prevent double migration.”

The telecom industry applauded Texas voters Thursday for supporting a constitutional amendment to create a $1.5 billion broadband infrastructure fund. More than 69% of voters supported Proposition No. 8 (HJR-125) in Tuesday’s election. The state will distribute the money over two years under measures the legislature approved earlier this year (see 2306120035 and 2305300057). AT&T is happy to see Texas voters “prioritize broadband expansion and closing the digital divide by passing Prop 8,” said AT&T Texas President Leslie Ward. Passage means there will be “a constitutionally dedicated funding source for broadband expansion, emergency services and next-generation 911,” Texas Telephone Association Executive Director Mark Seale wrote in an email. Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative, Inc., supported the measure during the legislative session and is "glad to see these funds being made available to enhance broadband, infrastructure and availability in Texas," said TSTCI Board President Allen Hyer. Meanwhile, Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey (R) told us Thursday there was no change in his uncalled race against De’Keither Stamps (D), a state rep (see 2311080040). With more than 95% of the vote in, Stamps leads 50.5% to 49.5%. Stamps didn’t comment.