News organizations opposed two Louisiana state bills that would restrict newsgathering by drone. State Senate bills 124 and 141 would make it criminal trespass to fly drones over private property without first obtaining the owner’s permission. In a letter to state Sen. Daniel Claitor (R), the news organizations said that "it will be daunting, if not impossible, for journalists to obtain the 'express permission' from a wide range of 'immovable property' owners, as the bill requires, especially during breaking news events.” The letter was signed by The Associated Press, the Radio Television Digital News Association, the Society of Professional Journalists and several other media organizations.

New York state officials urged the FCC to ensure a Connect America Fund auction keeps broadband subsidies allocated to the states where they were declined by price-cap telcos. They said they are concerned the $28.4 million in CAF Phase II funds for New York could be redistributed to other states. "These funds are critical for the deployment of broadband services in the New York communities affected by Verizon's 2015 decision to decline Phase II model-based funding," said Howard Zemsky, CEO of Empire State Development (ESD), and Audrey Zibelman, chairwoman of the state Public Service Commission, in a letter posted Thursday in docket 10-90. The ESD is managing a state broadband program that will include an auction to distribute up to $500 million in funds to provide broadband service of at least 100 Mbps to unserved and underserved communities. The letter asked the FCC to "reconsider a nationwide auction plan and instead directly allocate CAF Phase II funds to those states that are prepared to disburse broadband funding directly." If not, the New York representatives said, the federal commission should at least provide bidding credits to carriers receiving state funds to deploy broadband to unserved and underserved areas, and to set an auction floor for each census block covered by CAF II.

Verizon will partner with Boston to replace its copper network with fiber, Verizon and Mayor Martin Walsh (D) said in a news release Tuesday. Under the partnership, Verizon will invest $300 million over six years. The project is to start this year in Dorchester, West Roxbury and the Dudley Square neighborhood of Roxbury, followed by Hyde Park, Mattapan, and other areas of Roxbury and Jamaica Plain, Verizon said. The city and Verizon will take votes from locals to prioritize neighborhoods for the buildout, Verizon said. The city agreed to an expedited permitting process, it said. The partnership is also expected to enhance wireless services in Boston because it allows Verizon to attach wireless equipment to city street lights and utility poles. The city also will begin a cable TV licensing process so Verizon can offer Fios TV service in Boston, Verizon said. "Boston is moving faster than our current infrastructure can support, and a modern fiber-optic communications platform will make us a next-level city,” Walsh said. “It is a priority to ensure that every resident has expanded access to broadband and increasing competition is critical to reaching that goal.”

The Utility Reform Network (TURN) lined up several big consumer and labor groups against a California bill authorizing telcos to end legacy copper service in 2020. The TURN coalition against AB-2395 includes AARP California, Center for Accessible Technology, Communications Workers of America, National Consumer Law Center, National Hispanic Media Coalition and Public Citizen. A hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. PDT Wednesday on the bill, which would allow telcos in the state to transition to IP-based services in four years, if they first educate consumers about the transition (see 1603300054). TURN said the bill would authorize AT&T to strand many Californian customers who still rely on the copper network, including people in rural areas, low-income households, seniors and people with disabilities (see 1603290055). “Rather than modernizing phone service, this bill would take us back to the dark days when consumers were totally at the mercy of AT&T,” said TURN Executive Director Mark Toney Monday. “It will eliminate the most basic consumer protections, regardless of the enormous impact abandoning copper could have on emergency services and vital communications.” In a news conference Monday, AB-2395 sponsor Assembly Member Evan Low (D) called the bill a move toward the future: “California telecommunications law established in the 1950’s needs to be modernized so our state can continue to be the world’s innovation leader as well as the pioneer in addressing climate change. This legislation establishes a state policy for a clearly communicated, planned and orderly transition from the last vestiges of the outdated, and carbon unfriendly plain-old-telephone-service (POTS) network to modern, fiber-optic networks and services.” Local supporters include CALinnovates, the Congress of California Seniors, Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the San Jose Police Officers Association. The latter group’s vice president, James Gonzalez, responded directly to TURN’s claim the bill would make 911 less reliable for emergency calls, saying 75 percent of 911 calls “come from mobile phones, so we have to adapt to what consumers are using.”

Uber agreed to pay $10 million in a settlement with San Francisco and Los Angeles. It will have to pay another $15 million in two years if it hasn’t complied with all terms of the agreement. California Superior Court Judge Mary Wiss Thursday approved the settlement, resolving the enforcement action that began in December 2014. Uber agreed not to use possibly misleading phrases like “safest ride on the road” or describe its background checks as “the gold standard,” in advertising, the company said. “We’re glad to put this case behind us and excited to redouble our efforts serving riders and drivers across the state,” Uber said. San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón said the settlement “sends a clear message to all businesses, and to startups in particular, that in the quest to quickly obtain market share, laws designed to protect consumers cannot be ignored.” Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said she's pleased Uber agreed to comply with state consumer laws: “The ridesharing company has pledged to communicate honestly about its driver background checks and airport fees, important steps to protecting the residents of California.”

A federal district court extended deadlines for responses to Comcast’s motion to dismiss a complaint by two Georgia counties on a dispute about collection of 911 charges. The counties have until May 16 to respond to the motion, and Comcast has until June 30 to reply to the counties, said the order (in Pacer) dated Thursday. Comcast and the counties had jointly sought the extension after the court grouped the case with several similar complaints by the counties against telecom companies, and transferred them to Judge Amy Totenberg in a March 31 order (in Pacer). The Georgia counties of Cobb and Gwinnett filed the complaint in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, alleging Comcast failed to bill, collect, report and remit the appropriate amount of 911 charges from customers. The counties seek to collect the charges from Comcast. The operator asked the court to dismiss the case because it said the counties don't have authority to hold telecom providers liable for unpaid 911 changes (see 1603280040). The counties' other complaints are against Bandwidth.com, Broadvox, Cbeyond, Charter Fiberlink, Inteliquent, Level 3, Network Telephone, Peerless Network, Verizon Enterprise Solutions, XO Communications and YMAX Communications.

Five states will attend a policy academy on emergency communications interoperability, the National Governors Association said Thursday in a news release. Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Utah and West Virginia will participate in the academy, which will focus on developing strategies to strengthen statewide interoperability plans, including assessing governance structures and standard operating procedures, the NGA said. An NGA policy academy is an interactive, team-based process in which multiple states develop and implement a plan to address a complex public policy issue. Participating states receive guidance and technical assistance from NGA staff and faculty experts, plus consultants from the private sector, federal agencies, research organizations and academia. “All governors share the priority of ensuring first responders are prepared and equipped for an emergency,” Alaska Gov. Bill Walker said in a statement. “In Alaska’s vast and forbidding terrain, it is essential that all levels of response work together. This opportunity with NGA will help states plan for the constantly changing emergency communications landscape.”

County police are looking forward to the rollout of a nationwide public safety broadband network, the National Association of Counties said Tuesday. Police officers voiced enthusiasm for the network in an article about the FirstNet request for proposal on the NACo website. FirstNet released the RFP in January, and proposals are due May 13 (see 1603160052). Sheriff Jim Voutour from Niagara County, New York, said one immediate benefit with FirstNet is using smartphone apps connected to a secure network. The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office has launched several apps, including one that provides access to real-time detention center data with mug shots, charges and other information. The app includes push notifications for Amber Alerts and news about escapees and searches. “In Niagara County we take technology very seriously. We are always looking forward,” Voutour said. “The cops we are hiring today grew up with technology; they’ve had smartphones since they were 10 years old.” Meanwhile, in Texas, the public safety network “has made the laptop in a patrol car the equivalent of a network PC,” Brazos County Lt. Thomas Randall said. “We have gone from dial-up to a smartphone overnight.”

Consumers and small businesses in five states received 1 Gbps Internet service on Monday, according to announcements from Windstream and GCI. Windstream launched a 1 Gbps speed tier in Lincoln, Nebraska; Lexington, Kentucky; Sugar Land, Texas; and seven North Carolina communities. Separately, GCI continued its 1 Gbps rollout across Alaska, announcing an expansion of the fiber service to Juneau.

State education boards are well positioned to shape and guide student data privacy policies by strengthening data protection, informing parents and others about how information is used and protected, establishing model rules and laws, and improving training to reduce data security incidents, the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) said in a report Monday. At least 36 state boards have some legal authority over student data privacy and states continue to consider expanding such powers, wrote NASBE Education Data and Technology Director Amelia Vance, the study's author. But those boards that haven't weighed in on privacy need to, she added. "Data privacy will be ever more important as education becomes more personalized and dependent on technology." There is significant activity in this area. In 2013, 34 states passed new laws on student data privacy while "an even larger number" have created new policies and regulations, Vance wrote. Last year, 187 bills in 48 states were introduced, up from 110 in 2014 (see 1601050064). The report outlines current and proposed state and federal bills and model legislation put forth by other stakeholders such as the American Civil Liberties Union. But many bills and policies "unintentionally restrict educational technology use and innovation," Vance said, and it's vital boards review and address such issues. She also said that it's "a matter of practicality" for schools to partner with companies with far more expertise and money to provide up-to-date security, and that schools convey that to parents who worry about companies' access and use of student information.