The state's attorney general isn’t backing off plans to enforce the California Consumer Privacy Act starting July 1 despite a push by business groups to delay it by six months amid COVID-19. Lawyers are advising businesses to expect enforcement that day. The public health crisis must delay some things but shouldn't postpone this, said California Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Hannah-Beth Jackson (D) in an interview.
T-Mobile/Sprint opponents rang alarm bells after the carriers laid the foundation to possibly close their deal without California OK (see 2003310017). Sprint advised the California Public Utilities Commission Monday evening it's relinquishing its state certificate. The two carriers moved to withdraw their wireline transfer-of-control application. It could mean the companies close the multibillion-dollar combination as soon as Wednesday, analysts said.
T-Mobile told California regulators Tuesday night it's completing the multibillion-dollar takeover of Sprint before getting their approval because of concerns over COVID-19 and financing. Wednesday morning, it completed that deal.
T-Mobile and Sprint might be trying to close their deal without California OK. Sprint advised the California Public Utilities Commission Monday evening that it is relinquishing its state certificate and the two carriers moved to withdraw their wireline transfer-of-control application.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will reschedule hearings on ILEC service quality due to COVID-19 concerns, but written comments will still be accepted, a board spokesperson emailed Friday. Several hearings had been scheduled through May 19 (see 2003020038).
COVID-19 could reprioritize two California telecom funds. The California Public Utilities Commission sought comment Thursday on how it can respond to the pandemic using the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). In prehearing statements due that day on a possible overhaul to California LifeLine that could shift support to broadband, some urged focus on increasing participation of especially vulnerable low-income residents.
State commissioners should keep watch on telecom to protect consumers during the COVID-19 outbreak, said NARUC President Brandon Presley in a Thursday interview. “Once this crisis is behind us, we’ve got to view broadband service as a national security issue, in the sense of economic security,” he said. “I won’t have much toleration for anybody that comes to tell me that internet is a luxury.”
States are rapidly changing rules to increase telehealth access as a pandemic intensifies the need for remote care. Most policies weren't ready for the novel coronavirus, and even with states now taking emergency steps, “there’s a lot of work” left, said Mei Kwong, executive director of the Public Health Institute’s Center for Connected Health Policy. She and other experts predicted the virus will have a tremendous impact on telemedicine.
The COVID-19 pandemic shows the critical need for internet access, said state broadband officials on a Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition webinar Tuesday. “When we get through this, the silver lining for me will be if we’ve identified where we need broadband, how we’re going to fund that broadband and set a national and state strategic plan to getting there,” said Colorado Broadband Office Director-Federal Broadband Engagement Teresa Ferguson. The coronavirus “has brought home the point many of us have been trying to make for years” that broadband must be a priority, she said: “It is not enough just to fund to the anchor institutions,” but to go “through to the home.” Tennessee “will continue to focus on funding the deployment of infrastructure as well as digital literacy and adoption,” said Department of Economic and Community Development Broadband Director Crystal Ivey. Many states with broadband funding lack dedicated digital literacy support, so Ivey will watch whether the pandemic affects the amount of funding dedicated to increasing adoption, she said. “We’ve known the importance of connectivity for our communities, but as more of us are being asked to stay home from work and school, the issue is being elevated even further.” With so many working at home, broadband’s importance is “really becoming increasingly evident” (see 2002270006), said Pew Broadband Research Initiative Officer Anna Read.
The California Public Utilities Commission asked communications companies to share COVID-19 response and business continuity policies. Executive Director Alice Stebbins sent a letter Friday to executives at Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, Frontier Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications and Charter Communications. “Please indicate: (1) which essential functions can and cannot be performed remotely or transferred between locations; (2) how your company responds when employees are unable to work at their assigned job sites; (3) how your company is responding to shelter in place orders ... (4) whether continuity planning differs for pandemics versus events such as earthquakes or wildfires; and (5) whether your company has already activated your business continuity plan.” The CPUC sought any related communications to employees or customers. The agency asked if companies implemented Centers for Disease Control and Prevention interim guidance, what effects the coronavirus might have on call centers and credit-and-collections processes, and if companies suspended disconnections or implemented bill payment plans. Elsewhere, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission closed its office to the public and Saturday said business continues, with most staffers working remotely. The Wyoming Public Service Commission ended paper filing requirements Friday and made phone participation “mandatory” for Tuesday’s meeting. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) issued an executive order Sunday suspending certain Public Service Commission administrative rules and empowering the agency to respond to the emergency. The Florida Public Service Commission said Monday it will limit in-person participation at its March 31 meeting. The South Carolina PSC won't close its office but encourages e-filing and is suspending physical hearing appearances except for legal counsel, the agency said Monday: Weekly meetings will continue but can be livestreamed. Many state commissions are responding to the virus (see 2003200014).