State legislatures returning to session in the coming weeks will likely consider "a torrent" of net neutrality bills in the wake of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals striking down the FCC's net neutrality rules (see 2501020028), Access Partnership's Jacob Hafey wrote Monday. The court decision doesn't impact state-level net neutrality laws, such as in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, he added.
T-Mobile knew for years about cybersecurity vulnerabilities that led to a 2021 data breach, alleged Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) in a lawsuit against the wireless carrier Monday. The AG sought damages and injunctive relief under the state’s consumer protection and data breach notification laws in the state’s King County Superior Court (case 25-2-00308-6). Ferguson said that T-Mobile failed to adequately secure sensitive personal data of about 2 million Washington residents. Also, the company didn’t sufficiently inform customers about the breach, downplaying its severity and not disclosing everything that was compromised, he alleged. Customers received brief text messages about the breach “that omitted critical and legally required information,” said the AG office: And some customers didn’t receive information about social security numbers being exposed. “This significant data breach was entirely avoidable,” Ferguson said. “T-Mobile had years to fix key vulnerabilities in its cybersecurity systems -- and it failed.” The 2021 data breach exposes personal information of about 79 million customers nationwide.
A New York bill would help facilitate wireless broadband deployment and ease some requirements for providers at the local level. State Sen. Daniel Stec (R) prefiled the bill for the next session. The bill, SB-603, would exempt certain modifications of existing facilities from the need for municipal zoning or permitting.
Robocalls were the main consumer complaint in North Carolina in 2024, said Attorney General Josh Stein (D). Stein's office released a report Monday of complaints his office received (see 2412270024). "Not only are robocalls annoying, but they are also used to scam people out of their hard-earned money and personal information," the report said. After recent efforts at the state and federal level to combat unwanted robocalls, the office has seen "a general downward trend" in complaints.
A New York state bill would prevent junk fees for consumers by requiring "clear and conspicuous pricing practices" (see 2407310031). Five Democratic state senators prefiled the bill, SB-363, this week for the next legislative session. The measure would consider ISPs in compliance if they provide proof of compliance with the FCC's broadband consumer label rules.
The California Public Utilities Commission may approve about $26.2 million in additional federal funding for last-mile broadband infrastructure deployment (see 2107200056). A draft resolution scheduled for the commission's consideration during its Jan. 30 meeting would grant WiConduit and GigabitNow a combined $17 million to serve about 800 unserved locations. The commission will also consider a $3 million grant for AT&T to serve 973 unserved locations and grants totaling $6.2 million for Sierra Nevada Communications to serve 1,113 unserved locations.
A Missouri bill would allocate 40% of all the state's broadband funding to unserved areas and projects in urban locations. State Rep. Michael Johnson (D) prefiled the bill this week for the next legislative session. Under the bill, HB-677, unserved areas would get first priority on grant applications. Second priority would go to applicants in the same areas who can "demonstrate the ability to receive matching funds."
The California Public Utilities Commission last week approved $225 million in its 10th round of grants, totaling more than $1 billion, for last-mile broadband infrastructure projects. The last-mile federal funding account grant program expands broadband to underserved and unserved communities throughout the state. "These grants fund projects that vary from fiber to wireless network infrastructure," said CPUC Commissioner Darcie Houck: "In order to maximize our investments we have to use all the innovative technologies at our disposal." The latest round of funding will serve 163,000 residents across 14 counties.
The California Public Utilities Commission should "take official notice" of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' opinion in the ISP coalition's challenge of New York's Affordable Broadband Act, California's Public Advocates Office said in a motion filed Friday in docket R2406012. The U.S. Supreme Court last week denied the ISPs' petition to review the appellate court ruling in favor of the law (see 2412160039). The office said the opinion is "directly relevant" to the CPUC's proceeding on its carrier of last resort rules, which the PUC is considering lifting (see 2412100065).
A New York bill would require schools to restrict students' use of wireless devices and access to social media platforms while on school property. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D) prefiled the bill this week for the next legislative session. The bill, SB-140, would require that schools employ "progressive consequences" if a student violates the rules. A similar bill was prefiled in Missouri (see 2412090043).