The California Public Utilities Commission should consider affordability metrics in the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) and other communications proceedings, California Public Utilities Commissioner Cliff Rechtschaffen said Thursday. The CPUC voted 5-0 at a livestreamed meeting to apply an affordability framework across its regulated utilities (docket R.18-07-006). Communications companies resisted adopting metrics for their sector (see 2207290007 and 2207110030). “Affordability in the communications context is a little bit different and a little bit more complicated because there are multiple providers and different types of communications services,” said Rechtschaffen. “We don’t regulate them the same way we regulate our gas and electric and water utilities, but it’s nonetheless an essential utility service in today’s society and economy, and we need to understand the affordability challenges faced by vulnerable, low-income communities … in this space.” Also, the CPUC voted 5-0 to adopt a consent agenda including a proposed order to allow AT&T to discontinue residential landline service in Frontier Communications territory (see 2207210010).
Massachusetts inmates might be denied free phone calls with their families due to a disagreement between Gov. Charlie Baker (R) and the Democratic-controlled legislature. The California legislature will decide this month the fate of a similar bill that was opposed by sheriffs. California’s Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday teed up a vote on that measure, a few broadband bills and two industry-opposed social media bills.
California could risk losing broadband funding if it grants a consumer group petition to require low-cost broadband plans for everyone, ISPs warned this week. The California Public Utilities Commission received responses Monday in docket R.20-09-001 on advocates’ petition to modify an April decision on rules for the state’s $2 billion last-mile federal funding account (FFA). Industry also clashed with consumer groups, in reply comments in docket R.20-02-008, on how California LifeLine subsidies interact with federal programs.
The internet industry raised alarms with a California social media bill as state Senate appropriators teed up the bipartisan measure for possible vote next Thursday, at a livestreamed hearing Monday. The Appropriations Committee could also soon vote whether to advance to the floor three other website regulation measures focused on children, plus a bill to implement the national 988 suicide prevention hotline and a proposal to require standards for emergency alerts.
The California Public Utilities Commission is readying a state budget for $5 million in planning funds from NTIA for the broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program, CPUC Communications Division Director Rob Osborn told the California Broadband Council at a Friday virtual meeting. States must submit their planning budgets by Aug. 15. The $5 million is meant to cover costs required to create BEAD five-year action plans. The CPUC submitted its letter of intent to participate in BEAD July 1, Osborn said. All states and territories filed letters by the July 18 deadline (see 2207130047). Osborn believes California is in a “pretty strong position” compared with other states because of all its work on its $6 billion Broadband for All effort, he said. The California Department of Technology submitted its digital equity planning grant application July 11 and expects the state will receive funding in late September or early October, said Scott Adams, CDT deputy director-broadband and digital literacy: The state would then have one year to develop a digital equity plan.
The California Privacy Protection Agency will oppose the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA) as drafted, plus any other federal privacy bill that preempts California, CPPA board members decided unanimously Thursday. The board authorized staff at a virtual meeting to weigh in on HR-8152 and other federal privacy bills. Former FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz (D) urged the board to compromise on preemption.
The Oregon Public Utility Commission agreed to state USF rules updating rules on calculation and disbursements to eligible telecom carriers. Commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday to adopt a staff recommendation to proceed with adopting a CostQuest model, despite apprehension by some telecom groups in docket AR 649 (see 2207200017). Chair Megan Decker said the action recognizes “the continued uncertainty and the stress … on stakeholders that depend on the OUSF” but added she is sure the commission can “arrive at something reasonable” and flexible. The PUC can make “surgical tweaks” later if needed, Decker said at the livestreamed meeting. Commissioner Letha Tawney likes the transparency that using a cost model will provide, she said. The model will assist but won’t be the final word in setting OUSF benchmarks, she said. Commissioner Mark Thompson doesn’t think the PUC is on the wrong path even with outstanding questions, he said.
Nebraska USF (NUSF) accountability needs improvement, said Nebraska Public Service Commission member Crystal Rhoades at a livestreamed meeting Tuesday. The PSC’s lone Democrat cast the only vote against an order, adopted 4-1, to release a list of qualified bidders for the commission’s reverse auction (docket NUSF-131). With the auction, the PSC seeks to expand 100 Mbps symmetrical broadband using $13 million of redistributed NUSF support. Rhoades said she generally agreed with the proposed order’s recommendations but couldn’t support it because it wasn’t clear to her how evaluations were made, by whom and if they were consistent across applications. “I have a lot of concerns about this agency continuing to issue funding without having concrete processes that are transparent and that are followed every time without exception,” the commissioner said. "We leave ourselves vulnerable to all kinds of gamesmanship.” Rhoades called for overarching changes. “We've got some real process problems and accountability problems with this NUSF fund -- and we have for a long time -- and I think we need to get serious about correcting it."
LTD Broadband won’t appeal an Iowa court decision that affirmed an Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) decision not to grant the company an expanded eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designation. The designation was needed to get about $23.2 million for the state through the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, but Iowa District Court for Polk County ruled June 15 that the IUB’s decision wasn’t arbitrary or capricious. “We are not pursuing an appeal of the Iowa court ruling,” LTD Broadband CEO Corey Hauer emailed Tuesday. Hauer noted LTD already provides rural broadband to a quarter of Iowa’s geography. “By no means are we done fighting to bring fiber broadband to unserved and underserved Iowans.” Since January, the company “has been rapidly building” fiber-to-the-home services along the Iowa and Minnesota border and aims to have service in seven “small towns and surrounding rural areas by the end of August.” The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission decided last week to rehear its earlier denial of ETC status for LTD, while the Minnesota PUC earlier this month agreed unanimously to open a proceeding on whether it should revoke LTD’s previously granted ETC status (see 2207200037 and 2207140047).
The Michigan Public Service Commission is preparing for telcos to opt out of the state Lifeline program later this year due to a 2020 state law. Providers may give customers 90 days' notice starting Aug. 30. “There’s always worries” about customers who may be using the state discount, but the number of customers receiving the discount is “very small and continuing to diminish pretty drastically,” and getting people enrolled in the FCC’s affordable connectivity program (ACP) could have bigger impact, Commissioner Tremaine Phillips told us last week at the NARUC meeting in San Diego.