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.”

National wireless groups wrote leaders of the Ohio Senate and House raising concerns about a bill limiting wireless eligibility for broadband grants (see 2306150064). “Our hardest work is yet to come as we tackle the hardest-to-reach locations that remain unserved,” said a letter to the lawmakers: “Achieving universal connectivity, now more than ever, will require an ‘all of the above’ solution that matches the right broadband technology with the project. Fortunately, there is more than one technology that can meet consumer needs and expectations for their broadband service, with fixed wireless service providing its own benefits of cost and invaluable time to delivery.” The letter was signed by the Wireless Infrastructure Association, the Competitive Carriers Association, CTIA, NATE, the Rural Wireless Association and the Wireless ISP Association.

It would punish customers if the California Public Utilities Commission denies Verizon’s request for a one-year extension on its TracFone migration, Verizon wrote the CPUC Friday. "Hurting TracFone customers in this way would materially frustrate" the CPUC’s mission "to ensure California residents have safe and reliable service.” Verizon responded to a letter by Center for Accessible Technology (CforAT) and The Utility Reform Network (TURN) urging the commission not to waive penalties for Verizon failing to move more than 170,000 customers on non-Verizon networks in two years, as required by the CPUC’s 2021 merger approval (see 2306120037 and 2306080055). TURN and CforAT's argument "is premised on significant factual issues,” said Verizon: TracFone customers still on non-Verizon networks aren't about to lose service. "Verizon has already extended all relevant MVNO agreements so that California TracFone customers can continue to receive service over non-Verizon networks until well after the requested" Nov. 24, 2024, "migration deadline extension while Verizon continues to entice them to move to the Verizon network as part of the gradual and eventual migration resulting from this transaction,” said the carrier. Consumer advocates "apparently would prefer to force TracFone customers served on other networks to take action more quickly than that for no perceptible policy reason, other than to reflexively reject a request by Verizon." The FCC gave customers at least three years after closing to decide whether they wanted to migrate to Verizon, but the federal agency didn't impose a mandatory migration, noted Verizon.

The Utah Public Service Commission is seeking comments on Lumen’s petition for exemption from carrier of last resort requirements. Comments are due July 21, replies Aug. 7, the PSC said Thursday in docket 23-049-01. Lumen is seeking relief for new customers only (see 2306220032).

The Oregon Senate passed broadband and data broker bills. The state Senate voted 23-1 Thursday for HB-3201, which would require the Oregon Business Development Department to provide loans and grants for access, affordability and adoption. The House passed the bill March 30, but the Senate amended it May 19, so the House would have to vote again to concur. The state Senate also voted 23-1 for HB-2052 to regulate data brokers. Senators didn't amend the bill, so it goes next to Gov. Tina Kotek (D). Also Thursday, the legislature passed a comprehensive privacy bill (see 2306220059).

The New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission revised its open meetings policy in an effort to enhance transparency, efficiency and productivity, the agency said Friday. The commission will meet every other Thursday at 10 a.m., rather than weekly on Wednesdays as it does now, and informational and open special meetings will be scheduled as needed, the PRC said. Closed deliberative meetings will be scheduled as needed every other Thursday on weeks regular meetings aren’t held, it said. The changes are meant to give commissioners and staff more time to review proposed orders and agency attorneys more time to brief PRC members, the agency said. Commissioner Gabriel Aguilera “requested an evaluation for the appropriate frequency for this Commission’s open meetings and to add structure and improve our internal procedures, so that Commissioners are as prepared as possible to decide the important issues that affect the industries we regulate, stakeholders, and everyday New Mexicans,” he said. “The goal is to offer consistency and predictability. For most proceedings the public should have a pretty good sense on how we are going to rule, and for me that means we are making decisions based on the law and on precedent.” Commissioner James Ellison sees “a lot of advantages to having more time to consider matters, being able to edit orders, get feedback from other commissioners, and have time to write a dissent or something in agreement to provide a different slant on the issue,” he said.

New York state updated broadband coverage data for a second map and report on broadband coverage, the New York Public Service Commission said Thursday. The PSC found 97.5% of the state is served with high-speed internet. Last year's report said 97.4% was served (see 2206160059). The commission worked with 73 ISPs, surveyed consumers, collected feedback through the online map and conducted field inspections of more than 50,000 addresses. “The map and accompanying report are crucial in identifying areas that lack broadband access,” said Chair Rory Christian. “This data will continue to be a central resource for the efficient deployment of State and federal funding.”

Approving an AT&T application to relinquish its eligible telecom carrier designation won’t affect the carrier’s California LifeLine customers if the FCC ends federal Lifeline support for voice-only service, AT&T said Wednesday. The carrier responded to a concern raised by The Utility Reform Network at the California Public Utilities Commission in docket A.23-03-002.

Lumen wants to shed carrier of last resort (COLR) duties in Utah, in whole or at least in part, it said in a Wednesday petition at the Utah Public Service Commission (docket 23-049-01). Lumen isn't seeking relief from discontinuance rules to end services for existing customers, it said. "Rather, on a forward-looking basis, this petition seeks relief from the obligation to provide voice service to every new customer location regardless of the cost of service." Utah doesn't provide high-cost support to Lumen and the federal government stopped giving it federal USF support last year, the carrier noted. "With no supportive funding for the COLR obligations in CenturyLink’s service territory, either from the federal government or the State of Utah, the company should not be obligated to be a COLR.” If the PSC wants to keep COLR obligations in certain locations, it should let Lumen collect state USF support for those places, it said. Effective competition exists throughout the company's territory, claimed Lumen: Competitors can “provide functionally equivalent or suitable services.”

The West Virginia Public Service Commission approved a settlement proposal in a pole attachments case involving Frontier Communications, the PSC said Thursday. Frontier, Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison (Mon Power), Citynet, Micrologic and West Virginia PSC staff filed a joint stipulation on the pact June 9 (see 2306120038). The agreement responded to commission scrutiny about duplicative processes slowing pole-attachment application reviews. The order names MP/PE as the main point of contact to streamline the review process for attachments involving jointly owned communication line poles, the PSC said. Telecom carriers are currently applying for pole attachments amid “massive” broadband deployment, the agency noted. Under the approved pact, MP/PE will issue or deny permits, charge fees, perform billing and distribute payments and do required engineering work, said the PSC: The utility and Frontier will both invoice applicants for make-ready work. “While the Commission hoped that the parties would agree to a process for ‘one stop shopping’ with MP/PE as the only pole owner involved in the process, the parties have agreed that Frontier must be responsible for make-ready in the telecommunications space,” said the order in case 22-0885-T-E-SC.