The FCC and competition aren’t enough to protect customers from service-quality problems on IP-based connections, said California Public Utilities Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves. At the CPUC's meeting Thursday, she slammed the FCC’s 3-2 Wednesday report showing a narrowing digital divide (see 1905290017) and urged the California legislature to allow the state to regulate VoIP. Commissioner Cliff Rechtschaffen said carriers aren’t doing enough to ensure adequate service quality and questioned the effectiveness of a California policy that allows companies to avoid penalties.
Wisconsin lawmakers tried to push forward a 5G wireless bill over emotional warnings by public health advocates at a livestreamed Wednesday hearing. The Maine House that day passed a shorter small-cells bill that similarly seeks to streamline small-cells deployment by pre-empting local governments in the right of way. Maine bills challenging recent FCC policies on ISP privacy and net neutrality also advanced, while Ohio and New York lawmakers took up bills on ways local governments could help spread broadband.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission split 3-2 to clear T-Mobile's buy of Sprint. At the PUC’s livestreamed Thursday hearing, Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille and Commissioner David Sweet opposed approval without strong Pennsylvania-specific conditions on jobs and rural broadband. With FCC Chairman Ajit Pai supporting the deal Monday (see 1905200051), deal opponents see California’s pending review and possible intervention by state attorneys general as key remaining ways to try to stop the big wireless deal. While an FCC majority is poised to approve the takeover, DOJ's decision is less certain (see 1905220071).
Open California rural LEC markets to competition, urged CLECs and cable companies. They commented Tuesday on a fourth scoping memo in docket R.11-11-007 at the California Public Utilities Commission, related to a broadband competition study and the agency’s review of the state High Cost Fund-A (CHCF-A) program (see 1903250028). “Federal and state law and policy support opening RLEC markets to competition,” and the study gave no reason for further delay, said the California Cable and Telecommunications Association. “Many voice service providers already offer service in RLEC areas through wireless, satellite and over-the-top” VoIP, CCTA said. “Providers with fiber facilities currently offer broadband and video services in RLEC areas but cannot also offer their customers wireline voice service through those same facilities solely because of the CPUC’s delay in removing the regulatory barrier to competition.” The California Association of Competitive Telecommunications Companies said continuing to delay “competition extends an unwarranted and unlawful moratorium on market entry that stifles and distorts competition, broadband deployment and consumer competitive choice.” The Utility Reform Network cautioned that allowing voice competition could lead to higher prices and less reliable service in remote areas. “While competition can theoretically provide benefits to some customers, it is very likely that competitors would focus on serving the most lucrative residential and business customers,” TURN commented. “This loss of revenue puts pressure on the Small LECs to raise prices and increase draws from the CHCF-A to maintain their Carrier of Last Resort (“COLR”) obligations and provide their entire operating territory with affordable and high quality services.” Small LECs urged the CPUC to throw out the broadband study because they said it’s biased and full of errors.
The California Public Utilities Commission is taking a fresh look at communications, said members and staff at a commission meeting livestreamed Monday. Commissioners want to better understand future communications needs so they can determine the right role for the state regulator. They highlighted network issues during wildfires and low access among rural and low-income populations as possible issues.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a state net neutrality law Friday, as expected (see 1905160045). SB-78 restricts high-cost support or other state broadband funding to companies that adhere to open internet principles, and requires government entities give preference in procurements to ISPs that follow rules. “With Republicans in Congress rolling back net neutrality protections, it’s on states like Colorado [to] stand up and fight back," said Colorado House sponsor Chris Hansen (D) in a statement. Senate sponsor Kerry Donovan (D) said in a separate statement, “This bill will make sure that everyone has equal access to the internet by preventing private companies that use state money to expand their broadband networks from deciding who gets fast internet and who doesn’t." Cable ISPs "will continue to deliver to their customers an open Internet,” but the federal government should oversee what is an interstate service, emailed Colorado Cable Telecommunications Association President Jeff Weist. California, Oregon, Vermont and Washington earlier enacted bills, while Montana, New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Vermont governors signed executive orders. California and Vermont agreed not to enforce their rules until resolution of the appeal of the FCC's order at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Arizona local governments implementing a 2017 state small-cells law are champing at the bit for 5G deployment by carriers, two nonpartisan Phoenix-area mayors said in an interview last week. While many local governments oppose pre-emptive rules, Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels and Peoria Mayor Cathy Carlat said pre-emption is a fair cost for making cities smarter. Local governments are implementing the Arizona law but fear possible conflicts with an FCC September order, said Tom Savage, legislative associate for the League of Arizona Towns and Cities.
Colorado’s net neutrality bill will be signed into law Friday, spokespeople for House and Senate Democrats told us Thursday. Gov. Jared Polis earlier said he supports SB-78 by fellow Democrats Sen. Kerry Donovan and Rep. Chris Hansen. The bill would restrict high-cost support or other state broadband funding to companies that adhere to open internet principles, and require government entities give preference in procurements to ISPs that follow rules. Polis didn’t comment. The state might be less likely than others with net neutrality laws to attract a lawsuit (see 1904080051).
A Nevada Assembly panel cleared two bills that could divert 911 fee revenue for unrelated purposes. The Government Affairs Committee recommended passage Tuesday of SB-25, which would allow 911 fee revenue to be used to pay personnel and training costs related to portable event recording devices, and SB-12, which would use those fees to pay for an audit of surcharges collected by telecom providers. The Senate last month voted 21-0 for both bills. “Diverting funds that are paid by consumers toward 9-1-1 emergency services is not only deceptive and wrong, it puts emergency communications systems at risk," said FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly in a statement to us. "We heard support [Wednesday] from the Congress for even stronger enforcement mechanisms to be used against states that divert. Even under current law, diverters remain ineligible for federal NG911 grants.” Don’t use 911 fees, CTIA said in an April 17 letter on SB-25 to Senate Government Affairs Committee Chairman David Parks (D). “Use of 911 fees for purposes unrelated to 911 programs is misleading to wireless consumers and could crowd out funding for 911 enhancements that may be necessary in the future,” wrote CTIA Director-State Legislative Affairs Lisa McCabe. CTIA wrote a similar letter that day opposing SB-12. Parks didn’t comment Wednesday.
A Connecticut bill to resolve a long-standing fight about municipal broadband is headed to the Senate floor. SB-846 got wide support from the Joint Finance Committee, which voted 42-6 Tuesday. It clarifies local governments may use a reserved space on poles called the “municipal gain” for municipal broadband. Frontier Communications claims the bill would stunt broadband growth.