Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) plans to sign a bill that conditionally lifts state restrictions on municipal broadband, a spokesperson said Tuesday. Legislative chambers unanimously cleared SB-150 earlier this month (see 1902130020). Community broadband advocates see the bill as a positive development, particularly in a southern, Republican state, said Institute for Local Self-Reliance Director Christopher Mitchell. But he called “a little counterproductive” an amendment specifying municipalities may provide broadband only in underserved areas where they receive a grant. The bill’s effectiveness in promoting muni broadband now depends on how Arkansas sets up a state broadband grant program, Mitchell said.
A Hawaii net neutrality bill is headed to the Senate floor after the Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health Committee unanimously passed an amended measure Tuesday. The State Procurement Office opposed SB-253 that would codify last year’s executive order by Gov. David Ige (D) restricting procurement to ISPs that follow open internet rules. Bills are active in other states where, as in Hawaii, Democrats have a political trifecta. Momentum appeared to slow a net neutrality bill in Maryland, which has a Republican governor, after a hearing earlier this month where industry argued the state should wait for litigation to resolve (see 1902060057).
Georgia senators voted unanimously for a small-cells bill meant to streamline 5G wireless infrastructure deployment by pre-empting local governments in the right of way. They voted 53-0 Monday to send SB-66 to the House, which voted 170-1 for its same bill (HB-184) earlier this month (see 1902150031). The Wireless Infrastructure Association expects lawmakers to send the bill to the governor “in the coming weeks,” a spokesperson said. Monday on the Senate floor, sponsor Sen. Steve Gooch (R) touted compromise between carriers and local governments after “thousands of hours” of negotiation over seven months. SB-66 addresses local concerns with last year’s failed bill, including about undergrounding, historic districts and the number of applications a government can address at one time, the majority whip said in the webcast session. In Maryland, the Senate Finance Committee added the industry-backed SB-937 to a Tuesday hearing agenda that already included a different small-cells bill supported by local governments (see 1902210029).
California consumers would get a private right of action in its privacy law under tweaks to the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) proposed by Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) and Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D). They unveiled SB-561 Monday at a livestreamed news conference. Current law empowers the AG to enforce CCPA, but SB-561 would also allow consumers to file a civil action about any violation, Becerra said. It would remove a CCPA provision giving businesses 30 days to fix a violation before the AG can enforce the law, which he described as a “get-out-of-jail-free pass.” Businesses can’t fully cure violations like selling personal data, Becerra said. “Once it’s public, how can it ever then become private?” A third change would clarify the AG will publish guidelines but doesn’t have to respond to requests by any business or third party about the law. The AG won’t give free legal advice to businesses at taxpayer expense, Becerra said. Proposed tweaks aim to increase deterrence of privacy violations, and lawmakers this year will continue to discuss ways to tighten CCPA, said Jackson, the bill’s sponsor: “You've got to put some teeth in these laws.” Privacy interests expect a busy year adjusting CCPA (see 1902010015). The law will be enforced from Jan. 1, though AG has until July 1, 2021, to adopt rules and guidance. FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra warned Congress against “deleting” state privacy laws with a pre-emptive federal standard (see 1902250040).
T-Mobile and Sprint might have to wait until June or longer for California’s decision on their $26 billion deal, observers of the state review told us last week. Claiming due process violation by the combining carriers, the CPUC's Public Advocates Office Thursday urged the CPUC to grant more time to respond to carrier testimony that the advocates say was introduced too late in the process. New York earlier this month cleared the deal (see 1902070009).
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A Maryland House panel faced division Thursday on rival 5G bills meant to speed wireless infrastructure deployment (see 1902070028). Witnesses for the wireless industry and Maryland business groups at an Economic Matters Committee hearing backed HB-654 by Chairman Dereck Davis (D), while local government officials supported HB-1020 by Del. Mary Ann Lisanti (D) and seven others on the 24-member committee. State lawmakers also weighed potential costs and benefits of a bill to strengthen Maryland pole-attachment authority.
Connecticut carriers and business groups lined up against proposed net neutrality and ISP privacy rules in written testimony for a Tuesday hearing of the Connecticut Joint Committee on Energy and Technology. But the Senate majority leader and two state officials backed legislation that could have momentum this year after Democrats gained a political trifecta in the 2018 election. Nobody wrote in against a separate bill before the committee to curb caller ID spoofing.
Democratic and GOP lawmakers are linking arms to support state bills to combat caller ID spoofing, with some measures getting nearly unanimous floor votes this session. Lawmakers in at least 10 states including California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Mississippi and Virginia are trying to combat robocalls through legislation (see map). Spoofing is “completely irritating” and is happening with increasing frequency, said Minnesota state Rep. Julie Sandstede (D) in an interview.
NARUC's Telecom Committee unanimously cleared an amended Lifeline resolution urging the FCC and Universal Service Administrative Co. ensure the national verifier accesses state databases required to automatically check users are eligible. USAC is responding to concerns and committed to making the NV work, South Dakota Commissioner Chris Nelson told us after the vote.
The 1996 Telecom Act was a success but needs an update to connect those still unserved, former FCC officials and industry representatives agreed Sunday on a Telecom Staff Subcommittee panel. It’s unlikely to happen this Congress due to political divisions, they said. Former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and Gigi Sohn, former aide to ex-Chairman Tom Wheeler, urged states to stand up. Some state officials responded that pre-emption makes that difficult.