Nebraska commissioners voted 4-1 for a hybrid state USF contribution mechanism with a $1.75 per connection surcharge for residential wireline, postpaid wireless and interconnected VoIP services and a 6.95 percent revenue-based surcharge for business and other services. CenturyLink and small rural carriers Wednesday applauded the Public Service Commission’s Tuesday rate design order in docket NUSF-111, which followed last year’s decision to move to a connections-based contribution mechanism. Cox and CTIA raised red flags. Other state commissions are working toward USF updates, including Alaska, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
California state legislators revealed amended net neutrality bills reflecting a deal among Democratic lawmakers (see 1807310038). Sponsor state Sens. Scott Wiener and Kevin de Leon said amendments restored provisions controversially removed in an Assembly committee. Supporters and opposition Wednesday seemed to hold positions they had on the original Senate-passed measure, though ISPs complained about not seeing the revised language sooner. Washington state saw no problems or lawsuits since it became first to enact comprehensive net neutrality rules, said state Rep. Drew Hansen (D) in an interview this week.
As wildfires burn large swaths of the northwest, the California Public Utilities Commission plans to vote Thursday on extending the life of consumer protections adopted last year in case of future natural disasters. But in late-July comments released this week, most wireline and wireless carriers rejected the agency’s proposed decision as unnecessary and legally flawed. Telecom providers Friday reported few network issues from wildfires but said they’re lending support (see 1808030031).
Carriers are watching wildfires in northern California and Colorado but didn’t report major network problems Friday. Some wireless operators said they are providing free services or would waive fees. The California Public Utilities Commission said it plans to vote Thursday on making certain consumer protections permanent in case of future wildfires.
Charter Communications probably will feel pressure to talk deal after the New York Public Service Commission took back OK of the Time Warner Cable buy, experts said in interviews. Some said the PSC probably lacks authority to undo the deal. A Public Knowledge attorney said the PSC is within its rights. Charter will defend itself in court, if necessary, CEO Thomas Rutledge said Tuesday (see 1807310062).
The California Democratic Party endorsed the net neutrality bill by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D) that passed the state Senate and awaits a vote in the Assembly, Wiener and other Democratic supporters said at a news conference livestreamed Tuesday from Los Angeles. The endorsement is like a “shot of steroids” for SB-822, said Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D). California lawmakers plan to submit a fresh version of the bill Monday reflecting a deal among Democratic lawmakers (see 1807050036). “We then are in a four-week sprint to meet our constitutional deadline of Aug. 31 to pass bills and get them to the governor’s desk,” Wiener said.
The New York Public Service Commission’s extraordinary revoking of approval of Charter Communications’ buy of Time Warner Cable (see 1807270027) surprised observers Friday. Commissioners voted 3-0 to rescind the state's 2016 conditional approval of Charter's purchase, directing the acquirer to cease operations and submit a transition plan within 60 days. At Friday's special session, commissioners also voted 3-0 to direct counsel to initiate a civil enforcement case against Charter in New York Supreme Court seeking civil financial penalties for past failures.
New York Public Service commissioners voted 3-0 to revoke the state's 2016 conditional approval of Charter Communications’ buy of Time Warner Cable, directing the acquirer to submit a transition plan within 60 days. At a Friday special session, commissioners also voted 3-0 for an order directing PSC counsel to begin a civil enforcement case against Charter in New York Supreme Court seeking civil financial penalties for past failures.
States joined local government officials sounding the alarm over an FCC plan to ban state and local moratoriums on new wireless and wireline facilities (see 1807240035 and 1807130045). The draft order also includes one-touch, make-ready rules and is set for vote at next Thursday’s commissioners' meeting. States’ interest in pole attachments is increasing as they look to spur broadband, state commissioners said in interviews. Pennsylvania sees a need to take a stronger role in pole attachment disputes as part of that effort, said Public Utility Commission member Norman Kennard.
Crown Castle claimed a New York town violated sections 253 and 332 of the Communications Act when it banned wireless facilities amid public opposition resulting from “unfounded fears” of RF emissions. Crown Castle and Oyster Bay sought summary judgment in Monday motions at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Crown Castle said it sought access to Oyster Bay’s right of way nearly two years ago, filing 24 applications and receiving 22 permits. After installing several facilities, the town imposed a ban on wireless installations in the ROW, revoked the 22 permits, refused to act on the other two applications and seized two partially installed facilities, Crown Castle said. The company misrepresents facts and misapplies statute, Oyster Bay countered. Section 332 doesn't apply to distributed antenna system nodes because they provide an information service -- wireless broadband -- not commercial mobile or personal wireless service, said Oyster Bay. Section 253 similarly applies only to telecom services and could challenge only a municipality's laws and regulations, not decisions on specific installations, the town said. Crown Castle installed facilities “without any building permits, special use permits or authorization from the Town Board to utilize the public right-of-way,” Oyster Bay said. “Upon the change in the Town's administration and discovery of these illegal DAS installations, the Town issued a letter to Crown Castle demanding that Crown Castle immediately cease all [such] construction and operation.” Oyster Bay later found Crown Castle installed more than 100 DAS facilities without building permits, special use permits or authorization, it said. The two facilities seized were trespassing in the ROW, the town said. The tower owner last year sued New York localities over delays to wireless infrastructure builds; last month, the company filed a motion for summary judgment in a pending case against Hempstead in the same court (see 1806130052). The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed its complaint against Rye in December. The FCC is weighing a draft order that would prohibit local moratoriums on facilities (see 1807240035).