A New York state Senate data privacy bill cleared the Consumer Protection Committee for the second straight year during a livestreamed hearing Tuesday. In a voice vote, the panel supported advancing S-365 to the Internet and Technology Committee. The comprehensive measure by Consumer Protection Chair Kevin Thomas (D) passed the full Senate last year (see 2306090052). However, because the Assembly didn’t take it up in 2023, the bill returned to the Senate on Jan. 3. “It’s a bill that is necessary, especially since AI is generating so much right now,” said Thomas. “Data privacy goes first, and then the guardrails need to be set on AI.” Later in the morning, the Senate Telecom Committee unanimously cleared a cable prorating bill by Sen. Leroy Comrie (D), sending it to the Senate floor. S-493 would allow cable customers to seek a prorated refund if their service was disconnected or downgraded. The legislation received the committee’s approval last year (see 2305160033) but returned to the panel Jan. 3 because the full Senate didn’t vote on it in 2023. On Monday, the Telecom Committee sent a bill (S-1203) to the floor that would prohibit broadband terminations and disconnections during state disaster emergencies.
State broadband officials shed some light Tuesday into NTIA’s process for recommending changes to states’ broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) initial plans. NTIA’s so-called “curing" process lacks the transparency from earlier in the process when states sought public comments on drafts, some state and industry officials said during an FCBA webinar. States said they expect to use a mix of network technologies to reach everyone who needs high-speed internet.
A Washington state Senate fiscal committee cleared bills on AI and the 988 mental health hotline in unanimous voice votes during a livestreamed meeting Monday. The Ways and Means committee approved SB-5838, with an amendment by sponsor Sen. Joe Nguyen (D) establishing an AI task force. In addition, legislators cleared SB-6308 that extends timelines for implementing the 988 system, including providing the state health department 18 additional months to develop the technology platform. The bill would extend that deadline to Jan. 1, 2026, from July 1 this year. Also, the panel approved SB-6251, which includes a provision allowing behavioral health administrative service organizations to recommend 988 contact hub contractors within each regional service area. The panel approved an amendment by sponsor Sen. Manka Dhingra (D) with various tweaks to SB-6251. The bills will go next to the Rules Committee.
A state bill forcing privatization of a municipal broadband network in Frankfort, Kentucky, could debut shortly, Frankfort Plant Board (FPB) officials said in interviews. FPB is fighting the legislation, which is expected to be written by state Sen. Gex Williams (R). The bill, if and when it's introduced, would be part of a trend of industry attacks on muni broadband, said Gigi Sohn, American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB) executive director. Some argue private investment is superior to public broadband, while others believe certain conditions prevent making a true comparison between municipal and private networks. Still others think a municipal network is appropriate only in areas where private companies opt out.
The California Public Utilities Commission must ensure a smooth transition from a pilot to a permanent California LifeLine foster youth program, commenters said Tuesday in docket R.20-02-008. The CPUC may consider a Jan. 10 proposed decision to make the program permanent at its Feb. 15 meeting. However, the proposal doesn't address how pilot program participants will receive service after the proposed permanent program replaces it July 31, said T-Mobile, the pilot’s service provider. The permanent program would use other service providers. "Due to confidentiality concerns with foster youth, T-Mobile has no direct contractual relationship with any of the youth nor does it know their identities,” the carrier said. "T-Mobile simply has no way -- or authority -- to continue to provide service after July 31, 2024.” The pilot’s administrator iFoster said the CPUC should allow foster youth to continue receiving pilot program services for a year after the pilot ends “to encourage continuation of service and reimbursement of the current service.” Otherwise, the transition could result in inadvertently cutting off service to the pilot's 11,700 participants, it warned. Also, iFoster raised concerns that the proposed decision wouldn’t require data-sharing agreements with counties before transferring pilot program data to the new administrator. Without them, iFoster can’t transfer pilot data, it said. Also, the CPUC should allow foster youth to participate in the program until they are 26, iFoster said. The CPUC proposal would end benefits at 18, or 21 if the youth is in extended foster care. “Foster youth are extremely vulnerable once they leave the foster youth system” and will need a phone to apply for jobs, college or government benefits, iFoster said. The Utility Reform Network (TURN) urged the CPUC to clarify that it will own all data from the program. Also, establishing that the agency “will enter contracts and data sharing agreements for the permanent program will prevent the need to re-negotiate those agreements any time the [third-party administrator] changes, which would reduce transition time and enhance program continuity,” TURN said. The CPUC should require providers to replace mobile devices at no cost, it added. "Foster youth can change placement frequently, sometimes with little advance notice, so there is a risk of losing devices when they move.”
Challenges are rolling into some states charged with distributing billions from NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program, officials said during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday. Several officials said their states will be ready to start processes to dispute unserved or underserved locations as soon as NTIA approves volume one of their BEAD proposals. "A successful challenge process underpins the credibility of any state's entire BEAD program,” Kansas Office of Broadband Development Director Jade Piros de Carvalho said.
California should allow low-income consumers to apply for the state's LifeLine program without providing the last four digits of their social security numbers, consumer advocates told the California Public Utilities Commission Friday. The CPUC last month sought comments about expanding the program for those without SSNs (see 2312200019). Lifeline providers said they would consider it if the state makes up for a possible gap in federal funding and waives liability for incorrect enrollments.
A Washington state House panel voted 4-3 to clear a bill that seeks to share county 911 fee revenue with municipalities (see 2401160042). The Local Government Committee approved an amendment to HB-2258 that would effectively limit the bill’s scope to Spokane, the city where sponsor Rep. Timm Ormsby (D) last week said the bill was particularly needed. The panel’s three Republicans voted no. Ranking member Keith Goehner (R) said he worries the bill would set a precedent even with a limited scope.
State agencies and rural carriers urged the Utah Public Service Commission to give heightened scrutiny to a Lumen petition seeking statewide exemption from carrier of last resort (COLR) requirements for new customers. In prehearing briefs and written testimony filed last week in docket 23-049-01, they disputed how Lumen’s CenturyLink framed its arguments that relief won’t harm landline customers and that effective competition exists across the state. The PSC plans hearings Wednesday on the petition and has a March 17 deadline to reach a decision (see 2311290043).
Wireless carriers in comments this week condemned a “dynamic approach” to data and other proposals for California’s low-income program. The California Public Utilities Commission received feedback Wednesday on an Oct. 30 staff proposal for setting California LifeLine specific support amounts (SSA) and minimum service standards (MSS). Some urged the CPUC to tap the brakes, especially with uncertainty about continued funding for the federal affordable connectivity program (ACP).