CenturyLink said Ohio and Utah became the first states to approve its Level 3 buy, which it said also received clearance from Nevada. The Ohio and Utah approvals indicate "these states understand that this merger is focused on the enterprise business market and will create more services and opportunities for the combined companies' customers, employees and the communities we serve," said John Jones, senior vice president-public policy, in a release Tuesday. It said the DOJ and FCC are reviewing the deal (see 1702090035), which is expected to close by the end of Q3.
Sacramento will get a new area code, with 279 to be overlaid on the 916 region, the California Public Utilities Commission said in a Thursday news release. The 916 area code, created in 1947 as one of the state’s original three, was projected to run out of prefixes (the first three numbers after the area code) in Q1 2018, the CPUC said. Customers may be assigned the 279 area code starting in September.
The Vermont Public Service Board scheduled three public hearings on FairPoint’s proposed sale to Consolidated Communications. The hearings are Wednesday in Montpelier, Feb. 21 in St. Johnsbury and March 2 in Bennington, the Vermont Department of Public Service said last week in a news release. Commissioner June Tierney said it’s “a proceeding that will affect many Vermonters statewide.” The department “is committed to thoroughly reviewing the proposed merger to determine whether it is in the best interest of Vermonters,” said DPS Telecommunications and Connectivity Director Jim Porter. Consolidated asked for a quick Vermont review in a prehearing conference last month (see 1701190014). Comments at the FCC are due Monday.
The Connected City Advisory Board unveiled a guide for aspiring smart cities. The Wireless Broadband Alliance committee report provides information to governments developing connected-city plans, including factors to consider, what technology is required and case studies. “The CCAB’s Blueprint will enable cities to grow partnerships, and share essential knowledge that will essentially help better the lives of millions,” said Wireless Broadband Alliance CEO Shrikant Shenwai.
Alabama got three submissions on its FirstNet request for proposals seeking alternative radio access network plans, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Wednesday. The deadline was Jan. 31. “Over the next 90 days, these submissions will be evaluated based on specific requirements of the RFP and the technical requirements set forth by FirstNet,” ALEA said. FirstNet could release a decision in the next month or two on a vendor partner to build its network, with state outreach expected to be a big challenge (see 1702020056).
New York won settlements with two mobile app developers under investigation for failing to disclose data collection practices in privacy policies, said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in a Thursday news release. AB Mobile Apps and Bizness Apps agreed to add clearly written privacy policies to apps, he said. The attorney general didn’t find that the developers misused personal information or disclosed it to third parties. “New Yorkers have a right to know if a company collects and uses their personal information,” said Schneiderman. “In an age where data itself has become a commodity, companies must post privacy policies in a way that clearly and conspicuously discloses their data collection practices.”
The California Public Utilities Commission denied a cable industry petition to extend the right-of-way rights of commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) providers to cable wireless facilities. Commissioners unanimously adopted at the CPUC’s Thursday meeting the decision to deny the California Cable and Telecommunications Association petition. The denial was expected, with CCTA trying to pull its petition before the meeting, but the CPUC rejected withdrawal because it said it was faster to deny the petition without prejudice (see 1702070018). While denying the petition, the decision says cable companies wishing to provide wireless services may do so by obtaining status as a CMRS carrier by filing a wireless identification registration. The decision didn’t address a similar petition by the Wireless Infrastructure Association to extend the CMRS right-of-way rules to wireless pole attachments by CLECs.
Consumer Watchdog, alleging self-driving truck company Otto is illegally testing its technology on California roads, wants the Department of Motor Vehicles to revoke the Uber-owned company's registrations. John Simpson, the advocacy group's privacy project director, said in a Wednesday news release that 21 companies have gotten permits to test their self-driving tech "with no problem. Moreover, self-driving vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds cannot be tested in the state under current regulations. Otto’s robot trucks fail on both counts. They have no permits and they weigh too much.” Consumer Watchdog, which filed its complaint with the DMV Tuesday, also said Uber can't be trusted because it's doing mapping operations in San Francisco with cars that aren't operating in self-driving mode. "Based on Otto’s behavior, there is absolutely no reason to take Uber’s word for anything," said Simpson, who wants Uber's car registrations to be revoked again. In December, the company began a self-driving pilot in San Francisco similar to Pittsburgh but the DMV pulled the cars' registrations after the company refused to get a permit to test the technology. Uber said at the time it didn't need a test permit because a human was either controlling or monitoring the cars (see 1701300012). The company didn't comment now.
ISPs supported an effort to spread broadband to Arizona rural schools through the state USF but urged the Arizona Corporation Commission to place limits on how money is used and how much is collected. The ACC held a workshop on the initiative last month (see 1701300033). “This initiative should target rural areas [and] should be of limited duration and for a limited amount, and should limit support to commercially-provisioned, finished services,” CenturyLink commented Tuesday in docket RT-00000H-97-0137. Cox said the program should be limited to last-mile projects and not support overbuilding where another carrier has facilities. Cox and CenturyLink agreed the program shouldn't fund dark fiber. AT&T supported CenturyLink and Cox in proposing to cap the rural schools broadband fund at $8 million. Cox and AT&T said the ACC should limit collection of the funds for one year, while CenturyLink proposed two years.
The Tennessee House introduced broadband legislation proposed by Gov. Bill Haslam (R) that would provide $45 million in broadband grants and tax credits, and allow nonprofit electric cooperatives to provide retail broadband service. House Leader Glen Casada (R) and Rep. David Hawk (R) introduced HB-529, and Senate Leader Mark Norris (R) is expected to introduce the Senate version (see 1701270037). Also Wednesday, Sen. Steve Southerland (R) introduced SB-528 -- the Senate version of HB-194 -- a bill to create a commission to coordinate state broadband policies. Tennessee is one state community broadband advocates are watching this year for state legislative action (see 1701260022).