The California Public Utilities Commission must ensure a smooth transition from a pilot to a permanent California LifeLine foster youth program, commenters said Tuesday in docket R.20-02-008. The CPUC may consider a Jan. 10 proposed decision to make the program permanent at its Feb. 15 meeting. However, the proposal doesn't address how pilot program participants will receive service after the proposed permanent program replaces it July 31, said T-Mobile, the pilot’s service provider. The permanent program would use other service providers. "Due to confidentiality concerns with foster youth, T-Mobile has no direct contractual relationship with any of the youth nor does it know their identities,” the carrier said. "T-Mobile simply has no way -- or authority -- to continue to provide service after July 31, 2024.” The pilot’s administrator iFoster said the CPUC should allow foster youth to continue receiving pilot program services for a year after the pilot ends “to encourage continuation of service and reimbursement of the current service.” Otherwise, the transition could result in inadvertently cutting off service to the pilot's 11,700 participants, it warned. Also, iFoster raised concerns that the proposed decision wouldn’t require data-sharing agreements with counties before transferring pilot program data to the new administrator. Without them, iFoster can’t transfer pilot data, it said. Also, the CPUC should allow foster youth to participate in the program until they are 26, iFoster said. The CPUC proposal would end benefits at 18, or 21 if the youth is in extended foster care. “Foster youth are extremely vulnerable once they leave the foster youth system” and will need a phone to apply for jobs, college or government benefits, iFoster said. The Utility Reform Network (TURN) urged the CPUC to clarify that it will own all data from the program. Also, establishing that the agency “will enter contracts and data sharing agreements for the permanent program will prevent the need to re-negotiate those agreements any time the [third-party administrator] changes, which would reduce transition time and enhance program continuity,” TURN said. The CPUC should require providers to replace mobile devices at no cost, it added. "Foster youth can change placement frequently, sometimes with little advance notice, so there is a risk of losing devices when they move.”

The Wyoming Public Service Commission will designate T-Mobile’s Assurance Wireless an eligible telecom carrier for the limited purpose of providing Lifeline services in the state. At a partially virtual meeting Tuesday, Wyoming commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the company’s Jan. 15 application (docket 17484).

Similar to several other states, Washington will explore use cases for generative AI in state operations as well as regulatory guidelines. Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signed an executive order Tuesday requiring state agency WaTech to submit a report including a plan for how the government may procure, use and monitor generative AI. “This executive order lays out a year-long process for agencies working together to assess the feasibility, benefits and challenges of integrating this technology into agency operations and services,” Inslee said. “It’s our duty to the public to be thorough and thoughtful in how we adopt these powerful new tools.”

Verizon may discontinue MCImetro basic local exchange services to about 19 residential customers, the Utah Public Service Commission said in a Monday order (docket 23-095-01).

California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) backed bills on kids’ privacy and social media addiction, the AG office said Monday. SB-976 by Sen. Nancy Skinner (D) would provide social media controls for parents, including the ability to decide whether their children see a chronological news feed or one based on an algorithm, the current default. Also, the bill would let parents stop social media notifications and block access to platforms overnight and during the school day. AB-1949 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D) would amend the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to stop businesses from collecting, using, sharing or selling personal data of anyone younger than 18, unless they get consent or if it’s absolutely needed for the business’ purpose. Parents would have to provide consent for users younger than 13. “Social media companies have shown us time and time again that for profits, they are willing to harness addictive content to target a vulnerable population: our children,” said Bonta. The bill was rebuked by NetChoice, which last year won a preliminary injunction against California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code (AADC) Act (see 2309190006). “These are the same harmful ideas recycled from California’s AADC,” said NetChoice General Counsel Carl Szabo. “Rather than violate the Constitution, annihilate privacy, and force the government control of families,” California policymakers should craft proposals educating “parents and kids and imprison[ing] predators.”

The Utah Public Service Commission delayed until Feb. 8 evidentiary and public witness hearings that were planned for this Wednesday on Lumen’s carrier of last resort relief petition, the PSC said Friday in docket 23-049-01. The PSC said it delayed the case after the Utah Rural Telecom Association reported it was talking with Lumen and Utah’s Division of Public Utilities and Office of Consumer Services on a resolution. The parties clashed on a definition of the terms “captive customers” and “functionally equivalent” in prehearing briefs and testimony earlier last week (see 2401260059).

Public housing broadband grant recipients should provide free service without government subsidies, the California Public Utilities Commission could soon clarify. The CPUC may vote March 7 on a proposed decision that would adopt changes to the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) broadband public housing account and tribal technical assistance program (docket R.20-08-021). Responding to some commenters’ questions about the public housing program’s no-cost broadband obligation (see 2312140034), the CPUC would clarify that "the Commission’s intent is for BPHA grant recipients to provide broadband service at no cost to residents of the low-income community, without public purpose subsidies or other funding, which is consistent with our determination in Resolution T-17775 that ‘no cost’ means unsubsidized service that is free to customers.” The CPUC rejected a cable industry challenge to that resolution in September, affirming that service the affordable connectivity program subsidizes doesn’t count as free (see 2309010006). In general, the CPUC’s possible changes to the broadband public housing account “expand eligibility for non-publicly supported housing developments and for project costs to facilitate deployment of broadband networks in low-income communities that lack access to free broadband service that meets state standards,” the proposed decision said Monday. Changes to the tribal technical assistance program would align it with the local agency technical assistance program, the CPUC added. In a separate proceeding on utility service affordability (docket 18-07-006), the California Broadband and Video Association warned the CPUC not to expand the proceeding's focus beyond gas, water and electric. ISPs aren’t public utilities, the state cable association said Thursday. “The broadband marketplace continues to be marked by extensive and rapidly increasing competition across a variety of technologies and platforms, which disciplines prices and improves affordability without regulatory price controls.”

California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) announced an “investigative sweep” of streaming services and devices, alleging they don't comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act’s (CCPA) opt-out requirements for businesses that sell or share personal information of consumers, said a Friday news release. The investigation covers services that don’t offer an easy way for consumers to stop the sale of their data, said the release. The CCPA “secures increased privacy rights for California consumers,” including the right to know how businesses collect, share and disclose their personal information, it said. Under the CCPA’s right to opt out, businesses that sell personal data or share personal information for targeted advertising must give consumers the right to opt out, it said. Exercising that right “should be easy and involve minimal steps,” it added. Consumers using a smart TV should be able to navigate to the settings menu in a streaming service’s mobile app and enable the “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” setting, it said. Consumers’ preference to opt out should be “honored across different devices if they are logged into their account when they send their opt-out request." In addition, consumers should “easily encounter” a streaming service’s privacy policy with their CCPA rights, it said.

A Washington state House panel voted 4-3 to clear a bill that seeks to share county 911 fee revenue with municipalities (see 2401160042). The Local Government Committee approved an amendment to HB-2258 that would effectively limit the bill’s scope to Spokane, the city where sponsor Rep. Timm Ormsby (D) last week said the bill was particularly needed. The panel’s three Republicans voted no. Ranking member Keith Goehner (R) said he worries the bill would set a precedent even with a limited scope.

Vermont state legislators could need to step in should the affordable connectivity program (ACP) end soon, the Vermont Community Broadband Board said last week. Losing the ACP would “remove the floor for low-income Vermonters, the most vulnerable of our residents, and require considerable alternative funding to achieve digital equity,” the board’s Executive Director Christine Hallquist said in a Thursday letter to Vermont legislators. The ACP helps 25,000 Vermont residents afford internet, the letter said. “When this program ends, many if not all these families may no longer be able to afford their internet service.” Hallquist noted the board supports a bill in Congress from Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., extending funding through the rest of the year (see 2401100056). But Congress hasn’t approved funding and ISPs are sending customers letters about the program’s possible end, Hallquist said. “We are nearing the time when State action may be required to ensure Vermonters do not suffer from the inaction of Congress. Whether this action requires a temporary, or a more permanent fix, remains to be seen.”