Crown Castle said it will adhere to right-of-way compensation rules from the Texas small-cells law enacted this year. The company earlier argued newly established Chapter 284 in the Texas Local Government Code didn’t replace Chapter 283. Under the older section, the company didn’t have to pay the cities for ROW use because the chapter calculated payment based on number of access lines, and companies like Crown Castle don't have any. Author of the small-cells bill Senate Business and Commerce Committee Chairman Kelly Hancock (R) said Wednesday he never meant to spur regulatory-regime shopping (see 1710110062). Government Relations Manager Amandus Derr responded Thursday, “Crown Castle appreciates Senator Hancock’s leadership on this issue and fully intends to deploy small cell networks in Texas under the recently enacted Section 284.” ExteNet, which also argued Chapter 283 still stands, didn’t comment.
Talks continue between Windstream and New Mexico Public Regulation Commission staff over phone service quality lapses flagged by the commission, said a Tuesday status update in case 17-00081. PRC staff in June suggested penalizing Windstream (see 1706200071). Staff and Windstream will provide another update by Oct. 30, the status statement said.
The Nevada Public Utility Commission voted 3-0 to adopt a state USF order meant to simplify the process for requesting high-cost support for small scale providers of last resort (SSPLR). "Previously, eligible providers would file an annual request for support that amounted to a mini rate case proceeding, which was burdensome on both the SSPLR and Staff," the draft order said. Under the new process, the commission would set an NUSF support amount for five years subject to limited annual adjustment to account for fluctuations in federal USF support. The action makes permanent the new method, which the PUC adopted on a temporary basis in April. “This amendment to the regulations helps streamline the process to ensure that there is equity” service between rural and urban areas, PUC Chairman Joseph Reynolds said at the livestreamed meeting.
Iowans can now send text messages to 911, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) said in a Tuesday news release. Text-to-911 is supported in 94 of 113 emergency call centers and will be available in the rest by year-end, the governor said. “Iowans are able to send a text to 911 when a voice call would put them in danger or when a medical condition makes it impossible.” Many Americans remain unable to text 911 for help in emergency situations (see 1611290042).
Victims of spam calls should be able to sue telemarketers, Mississippi Public Service Commission Chairman Brandon Presley said in a Tuesday news release. Presley directed PSC legal staff to develop draft legislation to amend the state’s No-Call Law to give a private right of action against telemarketers. The legislature could consider the bill in its 2018 session, he said. Presley proposed a penalty of at least $500 per call, like what victims can get for National Do-Not-Call Registry violations. “I have always believed in hitting these telemarketers where it hurts … in their wallets,” Presley said. “But it is the victims, whose privacy has been invaded, who should be the beneficiaries of monetary damages where possible.”
West Virginia’s one-touch, make-ready law endangers union workers and the public, Communications Workers of America said Monday in the Frontier Communications lawsuit against Gov. Jim Justice (R) at U.S. District Court in Charleston. The law was enacted “to permit third-party entities to undertake the work of CWA members,” CWA said in a response (in Pacer) to Justice’s motion (in Pacer) to dismiss the union’s intervenor complaint. “This law … is an actual, threatened and impending injury to these West Virginia workers. The injury is to their livelihood and the integrity of the bargaining unit. This injury is more than possible -- it is the intent of the law.” CWA agreed with Frontier’s argument that Justice can’t claim sovereign immunity (see 1709150061).
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) opted in to FirstNet, FirstNet said in a Tuesday news release. It’s the third state that held a request for proposal to opt in and Ivey is the 26th governor to join. An Alabama commission last month recommended opt-in (see 1709260027). FirstNet said it delivered final plans to Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa, the last remaining jurisdictions to get plans. Alabama's choice will cost the state "millions of dollars a year in subscription fees," said a spokesman for Rivada, competing with AT&T for state contracts.
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) said the state will opt in to be a part of FirstNet, meaning 25 states or territories have said yes.
North Carolina will upgrade to Next-Generation 911, connecting all 117 primary 911 centers through internet-based routing services and eventually enabling the centers to receive texts, pictures and video, the Department of Information Technology blogged Wednesday. It will replace an analog system built in the 1960s, the IT agency said. The North Carolina 911 Board signed a $99 million, seven-year contract with AT&T to link the call centers through the AT&T ESInet by 2020, the agency said. The contract started Sept. 15, it said.
Alaska may increase its state USF surcharge factor to 15.8 percent, a 1.6 percentage point increase, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska said in a Wednesday public notice. The change, effective Jan. 1, would mean a $7.90 state USF fee on a $50 monthly billing of intrastate telecom services, the RCA said. The commission sought comments on the proposed increase by Nov. 2. Decreasing revenue from the state USF has led the RCA to consider short-term and long-term changes to the fund (see 1709210038).