State commissioners proposed NARUC telecom resolutions seeking permanent annual funding for the affordable connectivity program (ACP) and recommending no government subsidies to communications companies using network equipment that might pose a national security risk. The state regulator association may consider the draft resolutions at its July 16-19 meeting in Austin. Telecom Committee ex-Chair Karen Charles Peterson of Massachusetts proposed the ACP resolution and another draft that would urge expanding Lifeline Awareness Week to include broadband access. ACP funds are expected to dry up by Q2 2024, said the first resolution. “Establishing a new federal assistance program was a complex process at the federal, state, territory, tribal and local level,” and potentially losing a permanent low-income broadband program "with government oversight is troubling because universal high speed internet access is essential for a well-functioning economy.” New Telecom Committee Chair Tim Schram (R) of Nebraska proposed the national security resolution. Despite "efforts to rip out and replace equipment and services from" the FCC's covered list "to safeguard our communications networks," a March 1 FCC public notice found about 79 providers still have covered equipment. That poses "an unacceptable risk to national security,” the draft said. The resolution would encourage the FCC to work with state commissions and broadband offices to identify risky equipment and hold back funding. “NARUC recommends that no federal, state, or local governmental body provide universal service support, broadband deployment support, or any other form of grant funding to any communications company which utilizes equipment identified on the FCC’s Covered List anywhere in its network.”

California commissioners should "move forward with steps to regulate VoIP providers and provide specific recommendations for an appropriate regulatory framework,” said Center for Accessible Technology (CforAT), The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and Communications Workers of America (CWA). The California Public Utilities Commission received reply comments Friday in docket R.22-08-008. "Industry parties continue to fixate on preemption," as they have for the past nine months of the proceeding, the consumer and workers' groups complained. That CforAT, TURN and CWA "ignore the preemption issue entirely" means industry's "preemption arguments stand unrebutted," replied AT&T. The California Broadband and Video Association warned the CPUC that market "entry requirements and other utility-style regulations for interconnected VoIP service are not only unnecessary but would exceed the Commission’s authority and conflict with [FCC] and federal court precedent.” Regulating business VoIP providers "is unnecessary and unsupported by the evidentiary record or actual marketplace experiences,” the Cloud Communications Alliance replied. But Small Business Utility Advocates said the CPUC has legal authority and should regulate VoIP.

The New Jersey Assembly voted 78-0 Friday to pass a bill that would hold social media platforms liable when they engage in activity that causes users under the age of 18 to “become addicted” to their services (see 2303200046). A-5069 will go to the Senate, which has a similar bill (S-3608).

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska approved a telecom industry pact on intrastate access charges Friday. The Alaska Exchange Carrier Association, AT&T and GCI filed a petition in January asking the RCA to accept their stipulation on rates for July 1 through June 30, and then July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 (see 2301100049). The parties agreed all the rates except originating non-toll-free local switching and information surcharge rate elements will remain the same as 2022 stipulated rates, said the RCA order in docket U-23-001. “We find that the public interest does not require continuation of this proceeding."

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska can’t guarantee it will quickly decide on an AT&T application to discontinue intrastate interexchange long-distance service in 15 communities, the commission said in a Thursday order. AT&T requested expedited consideration with a final decision by Aug. 1 so Alaska’s decision “coincides with the approximate decision date of its” similar request at the FCC, the commission said. The agency said it will try to meet that date but could commit only to an order by Dec. 4, “unless the time is extended.”

Maryland's Montgomery County alerted residents about 911 problems Friday. “Montgomery County Emergency Communications (911) is experiencing a Verizon wireless issue,” said a wireless alert from the county at around 9:30 a.m. “In case of an emergency, callers are asked to call their district stations. Verizon is aware and attempting to fix the problem.” A Verizon spokesperson said Friday morning that 911 calls were “going through for customers throughout the greater [District of Columbia] area and surrounding counties,” but there was “a remaining issue where caller ID and location information is not automatically transmitting to dispatchers in Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and St. Mary's Counties.” Verizon “engineers are working tirelessly to get the issue resolved but customers can continue to use 911 in case of emergency,” the spokesperson said.

Texas showed appreciation for the federal government allocating it the most money of any state through NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program. Texas is receiving by far the largest BEAD award, with more than $3.3 billion announced Monday (see 2306260007). “Historically, Texas has typically been a donor state, meaning our tax dollars would go to Washington and then get sent out to fund projects in other states,” Comptroller Glenn Hegar (R) said Thursday. “It’s good to see our hard-earned tax dollars coming back to Texas, and you can be certain that each of those dollars will be spent wisely.” The comptroller is “encouraged that NTIA recognizes the challenges we face in Texas,” Hegar said. “And I hope as NTIA evaluates our proposal in the coming months, that it gives Texas the freedom and latitude to bridge the digital divide without needless restrictions.” BEAD funding may be "a rare opportunity for bipartisanship and cooperation as a Democratic administration works to implement a program targeted largely at areas that voted the other way," Cloudflare Director-Network Strategy Mike Conlow blogged Wednesday. About two-thirds of unserved and underserved households eligible for funding are likely Republican, he said.

The North Carolina House voted 112-1 to pass a broadband bill Wednesday that would modify federal funding rules. The Senate received the bill Thursday and referred it to the Rules Committee. HB-197 would require the support to be used to expand broadband to unserved and underserved households, businesses, state facilities and anchor institutions. Existing law mentions only households. The bill would tweak how much of the initial funds from NTIA’s broadband, equity, accessibility and deployment program may be used for various purposes.

AT&T won’t yet be relieved of an obligation to file automated reporting management information system (ARMIS) financial reports with the California Public Utilities Commission, the CPUC decided at a virtual meeting Thursday. The commission voted unanimously for a consent agenda that includes a draft decision denying AT&T’s 2021 petition for modification of a 2009 order about regulating large and mid-sized telecom companies (docket R.05-04-005). The CPUC will consider the issue instead as part of its service-quality rulemaking (docket R.22-03-016), said the draft. AT&T argues the ARMIS reports no longer serve a useful purpose and are too time-consuming to produce. Its petition got opposition from consumer groups and support from small carriers. Also at the meeting, California commissioners supported a draft resolution T-17793 to approve $5.1 million in local agency technical assistance applications for nine non-tribal local agency applications. The approval will exhaust $45 million available for such entities. Commissioners approved another proposed resolution T-17786 to approve $162,655 in support from the California Advanced Services Fund adoption account to two projects. “We have to build broadband infrastructure and make sure everyone is able to use it,” said Commissioner Darcie Houck. “These grants are one step in accomplishing these goals in a manner that will maximize the impact of our investment.”

A Delaware 988 funding bill will go to Gov. John Carney (D) for his signature. State senators voted 18-1 Wednesday for HB-160 after the House passed it 28-11 last week. To support the suicide and crisis lifeline, the bill would create a 60-cent monthly fee per phone line, or a one-time 60-cent fee for prepaid services, and cover wireline, VoIP and wireless technologies, said a June 19 fiscal note: It would exempt state and quasi-state government agencies, school districts and charter schools from paying the surcharge.