The California Public Utilities Commission extended deadlines for intervenor and rebuttal testimony on AT&T’s application to relinquish its eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designation across the state. Administrative Law Judge Thomas Glegola granted a request by The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and Center for Accessible Technology (CforAT) Friday in docket A.23-03-002. The ALJ extended the intervenor deadline until Nov. 30 from Oct. 25 and the deadline for AT&T’s rebuttal to Jan. 19 from Nov. 30. Glegola rejected AT&T opposition to giving the consumer groups more time to respond. “AT&T’s ETC service territory spans hundreds of thousands of census blocks and AT&T asserts multiple ETCs serve these census blocks,” so it’s “reasonable to conclude that a consultant likely is necessary to perform the analysis needed for TURN and CforAT to prepare its testimony,” the ALJ wrote. ”AT&T’s argument regarding the amount of time the intervenors have had to review the information it has filed ignores that AT&T has twice updated this information.” The CPUC declined last month to consolidate the proceeding with AT&T’s separate request (docket A.23-03-003) to shed carrier of last resort obligations (see 2309210014).
The Vermont Community Broadband Board plans digital equity listening sessions with the public Oct. 20 in St. Johnsbury, Oct. 24 in Burlington and Oct. 27 in Barre, the VCCB said Wednesday. Also, the board set a virtual session Oct. 24, it said. The board wants to hear “about what is working and what is challenging about using the internet,” said Digital Equity Officer Britaney Watson.
A state broadband bill passed the Wisconsin legislature, disappointing the wireless industry. The Senate and Assembly each passed SB-325 Tuesday, despite wireless industry concerns about the bill limiting future funding to fiber-only projects (see 2309290046). It will go to Gov. Tony Evers (D) for approval. “Fixed wireless is the fastest growing form of broadband in the [U.S.] so allowing wireless broadband solutions to compete for state broadband funds will only benefit consumers and accelerate the expansion of connectivity,” a Wireless Infrastructure Association spokesperson said Wednesday. The bill is a departure from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission's historically tech-neutral approach to broadband grants, said Wireless ISP Association State Advocacy Manager Steve Schwerbel. "The Wisconsin Legislature has taken an unfortunate and disappointing step away from this success, passing legislation designed to put its thumb on the scale in favor of certain technologies over others. This will push the PSC to ignore quicker-to-deploy, more cost-effective projects that offer the same speed and reliability to customers who need broadband access today." Also, Wisconsin senators voted 30-2 Tuesday for SB-371, which would create a grant program at the Department of Military Affairs for ILECs to reimburse next-generation 911 costs. It will go to the Assembly.
State legislators floated more than 200 content moderation bills this year, the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) said Wednesday. Many of the proposals are “unconstitutional, conflict with federal law including Section 230, and would place major barriers on digital services’ abilities to restrict dangerous content on their platforms,” said the CCIA report. “Many legislators made the measured decision to pause the advancement of this type of legislation until the Supreme Court makes its decision” on Texas and Florida social media laws, it said. “We anticipate this will likely continue to be a main focus for legislators in 2024.”
The states furthest along on initial proposals for NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program are Louisiana, Virginia, Delaware, Kansas and Vermont, shows an NTIA dashboard launched Wednesday. The dashboard tracks states’ and territories’ progress toward six milestones for two volumes of initial proposals, including NTIA approvals. So far, the agency has approved only one proposal: Louisiana's volume one. NTIA said 44 states and territories shared the first volume with the federal agency for feedback, while 31 released it for public feedback. NTIA said 19 jurisdictions shared the second volume with the agency; nine sought public comment.
New Jersey sees permitting, workforce and supply chain as possible barriers to high-speed internet deployment, said the state’s Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in an amended five-year action plan posted this week. The board voted 4-0 last week to release the amended plan for the broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program. The BPU initially filed the draft Aug. 28, but NTIA returned it with feedback Sept. 15. The BPU submitted the amended draft to the federal agency Sept. 29. The New Jersey Department of Transportation is rolling out an electronic permitting review system, the state noted in the latest draft. “While this will create significant efficiencies once enabled … statewide adoption is occurring incrementally, and some localities and providers may experience financial or other challenges in implementation. Additionally, broadband providers have expressed concerns about the investment in time and number of required permits, which can cause unanticipated delays in projects.” New Jersey expects a telecom worker shortage of up to 55,000 jobs by 2026, and “inflation and supply chain issues amplified by the pandemic have continued to create delays in equipment delivery and material availability for broadband infrastructure and deployment,” it said.
An Oklahoma “overbuild prevention” challenge process for American Rescue Plan Act grants took effect after Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) approved the emergency rules Thursday, the state’s broadband office said Friday.
The Wisconsin Assembly will weigh broadband law changes (AB-303) Tuesday, the Rules Committee decided Thursday. Earlier that day, the Energy Committee voted 16-0 to amend and advance AB-303. The bill would refocus the state’s broadband expansion grant program on unserved rather than underserved areas. It would update the definition of unserved to include areas with less than 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload speeds, allowing the PSC to consider updating that definition every two years. Current state law considers areas with less than 5 Mbps down and 600 Kbps up unserved. Among other new rules, AB-303 would require applicants to participate in the FCC’s affordable connectivity program or a successor program.
The Nebraska Public Service Commission gave more time to comment on some long-term Nebraska USF items. The PSC opened the rulemaking in docket NUSF-139 Aug. 29 (see 2308290044) and received comments on short-term issues Sept. 29 (see 2310020062). Comments on broader NUSF changes were due Nov. 17. That deadline will still apply to comments on NUSF goals and updating the strategic plan, and on investment incentives for carriers, a transitional mechanism to support deployed broadband networks and oversight to prevent duplicative or excessive support, Commissioner Tim Schram ordered Thursday. But now due Dec. 22 are comments on revising the portable support mechanism for competitive providers, enhancing consumer protections for accessing providers of last resort and quality services, ensuring affordable rates in rural areas that reasonably compare to urban places, and simplifying regulatory accounting and eligible telecom carrier recertification, the order said. In a separate order Friday (docket NUSF-117), the Nebraska PSC indefinitely extended the state E-rate special construction matching program and increased the state match for projects in the FCC’s corresponding program. The order removes a 10% match cap from the state allocation. Instead, Nebraska will match any remaining eligible new fiber construction costs not already funded through the FCC program, not to exceed 100% of eligible costs, the PSC said. The order gives schools and libraries in the federal program the chance “to install new fiber to their facilities at no cost,” said Chair Dan Watermeier (R).
New York state legislation to limit “addictive” social media features for children and teens is unconstitutional, NetChoice said Wednesday. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), Attorney General Letitia James (D) and state legislators announced the bills earlier that day (see 2310110048). “It’s unfortunate for New Yorkers that the state is denying parents their right to raise their children as they deem appropriate, all while ignoring the simple steps of working with schools and community leaders to educate students and adults how to use social media in a safe and responsible manner,” said NetChoice General Counsel Carl Szabo. “Instead of adopting the successful approach of Virginia and Florida to educate students, New York is following the same unconstitutional approach as California and Arkansas.”