Michigan can access $1.5 billion from the broadband equity, access and deployment program after receiving NTIA approval Wednesday for volume two of its initial plan. NTIA has approved BEAD initial plans for 37 eligible entities. The agency cleared Guam on Friday and New York state earlier this month (see 2408130032).

The Texas Public Utility Commission sought staff responses to Brightspeed petitions for deregulation in various territories. A PUC order Wednesday sought staff’s response by Sept. 17 to a petition for deregulation in the Port Aransas exchange (docket 56999). The response should indicate if the petition is sufficient and provides enough notice to customers. Also, staff must propose a procedural schedule, the order said. The PUC issued a similar order Tuesday on another Brightspeed petition for deregulation in the Lake Dallas local exchange market (docket 57000). Commission staff must respond to that by Sept. 26. Also, the Texas PUC on Wednesday ordered a response by Sept. 26 to a third Brightspeed petition seeking similar relief in its San Marcos exchange (docket 56998).

California state senators passed bills on telecom, privacy and social media Wednesday. The state Senate voted 38-0 for AB-2765, which would require that the California Public Utilities Commission report on inspections that ensure companies comply with resiliency plans. The Assembly then concurred with Senate changes, allowing the bill to go to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). Also, the Senate voted 38-1 to approve a bill (AB-3216) requiring that schools adopt limits or bans on student use of smartphones. On privacy, the Senate voted 31-7 for AB-3048, which would require web browsers to opt-out from the sale of and sharing data on all websites. Senators voted 39-0 for AB-1824, which would require a business acquiring another company to follow an acquired customer’s privacy directions under the California Consumer Privacy Act. In addition, they voted 40-0 for a bill (AB-1282) that would require a study on mental health risks of social media for children. The Assembly previously passed AB-1282, AB-1824, AB-3216 and AB-3048 but must vote again to concur with Senate changes. Also Tuesday, Newsom received AB-2905, which the legislature passed last week. It would expand the state’s autodialer definition to include calls made with an AI voice. The California legislature wraps up its session Saturday.

Georgia voters urged a federal court to reject the state’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit related to Georgia Public Service Commission elections. Plaintiffs, including Georgia Conservation Voters Executive Director Brionte McCorkle, are asking the U.S. District Court for Northern Georgia to overturn a 2024 state law that tried to restore staggered commissioner terms after previous litigation led to the delay of 2022 and 2024 PSC elections (see 2408130037). The plaintiffs said the law violates the Georgia and U.S. constitutions. But Georgia argued that the complaint is flawed because the plaintiffs lack standing and fail to state a federal claim. The plaintiffs responded Monday that McCorkle has standing because “she alleges the denial of her right to vote in a specific election delayed by an unconstitutional statute.” In addition, “McCorkle states a federal claim for a violation of the [U.S. Constitution's] Due Process Clause by alleging that [Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R)] has delayed or denied an election in which she is entitled to vote under state law.” In another Monday filing supporting a motion for preliminary injunction against Georgia, plaintiffs said the “main thrust” of Raffensperger’s opposition is that the 2024 law is “good policy,” but “good policy doesn’t authorize the Secretary to violate the Georgia Constitution.” The plaintiffs added, “Delaying elections for three seats on the PSC from 2024 until 2025 and 2026 … denies Georgia voters their right under Georgia law to vote for those seats in 2024.” That violates due process, they said (case 1:24-cv-03137-WMR).

The California Public Utilities Commission proposed $174.4 million in federal broadband grant awards for 15 last-mile projects in Santa Clara and four other counties. Recommended grantees include three tribal entities, the CPUC said Friday. The commission has a vote planned for its Sept. 26 meeting on two draft resolutions (T-17845 and T-17846) including the recommended awards. The CPUC recommended a $91 million round of federal grants earlier this month (see 2408090016). Commissioners last Thursday agreed on another $237 million in grants using money from 2021's American Rescue Plan Act and the state's general fund (see 2408220044). CPUC members may also vote Sept. 26 on a proposed decision approving volume two of the CPUC’s proposed rules for NTIA’s broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program. The CPUC submitted both volumes of its initial plan to NTIA on Dec. 26, 2023, the draft released Friday noted. During the NTIA’s review of California’s volume two, the federal agency requested changes “on seven separate occasions,” it said. “The deadlines for submitting BEAD applications will be announced by the [CPUC] Communications Division Staff, after the NTIA approves the final eligibility map.” California still needs NTIA volume-two approval to access its $1.86 billion BEAD allocation.

A West Virginia task force will consider pole attachment rules related to resolving disputes that delay broadband deployment, the state’s Public Service Commission ordered Friday. The state is considering a pre-complaint dispute resolution mechanism like that of the FCC rapid broadband assessment team, the PSC said in docket 24-0703-T-E-CTV-GI. The task force will also consider requiring utilities and pole owners to share pole inspection information with possible attachers and report periodically to the commission on rule compliance and processing applications. “The Task Force will consider issues and impediments that cause delays in processing requests for access to a utility’s poles, ducts, conduits, or rights-of-way, and recommendations to address those issues and/or impediments,” the order said. Also, the group will “consider processes for expediting pole attachment disputes that may delay broadband deployment projects.”

Poles are a critical part of efficient broadband deployment but current processes “can be complex and opaque,” said a Maine Connectivity Authority report released Monday. The state's geography and “rocky terrain” limit providers' ability to install broadband lines underground, the MCA report said. “As a result, the cost to attach cables and equipment on utility poles can represent a material portion of the overall cost to deploy new broadband. Accessing utility poles affordably, efficiently, and safely will be critical to the success of broadband projects across the state.” However, the report said, it’s tough for providers to anticipate project costs and timeframes. “This lack of clarity can lead to cost overruns, construction delays, and potentially projects not even happening at all, reducing the effectiveness of this federal broadband funding.” A 2023 state law required the Maine Utilities Commission to study pole-attachment requirements’ effect on broadband expansion (see 2402160042). The Maine PUC plans to tap research from the MCA report to make final findings and recommendations to the state legislature by Dec. 1.

Mississippi awarded $21.6 million in broadband grants with cash from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund, said Gov. Tate Reeves (R) on Monday. Nine projects by AT&T, Comcast, C-Spire, ACE Fiber and TVEPA are expected to expand service to 12,300 households, the Reeves office said: Mississippi has spent $162 million from CPF so far.

Changes in Kentucky's pole attachment rules “provide more clarity that will likely reduce the potential for friction between pole owners and attachers during the steps leading up to broadband deployment,” the Kentucky Broadband and Cable Association (KBCA) said in a Friday filing at the Kentucky Public Service Commission (docket 2023-00416). The Kentucky PSC posted the emergency amendments on Aug. 16 after reviewing comments (see 2408010031). Cable companies “look forward to working with pole owners to operationalize these amended emergency regulations in the field,” KBCA said.

Verizon’s Simple Mobile premiered its LifeLine discount program on Friday targeting California residents. The prepaid carrier is offering a 30 GB monthly wireless plan for as little as $1. The plan previously offered 10 GB/month. With the affordable connectivity program “going away, we wanted to create a best-in-class offer with a best-in-class brand that truly serves our communities,” said David Kim, chief revenue officer at Verizon Value.