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Fla. Senate Panel Supports Broadband Public Records Exemptions
March 30, 2023 |State Telecom

The Florida Senate Governmental Oversight Committee voted 8-0 to make more of the state’s broadband program confidential. SB-552 would exempt from public record inspection requirements information on communications services locations, project proposals and challenges submitted to the Department of Economic Opportunity through state or federal grant programs. The department must still publish on its website descriptions of proposed areas to be served and proposed broadband speeds.

Okla. Commissioners Support Telecom, USF Rule Changes
March 29, 2023 by Adam Bender|State Telecom

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission softened a staff-recommended proposal to require carriers to notify other telecom companies about outages, after receiving AT&T opposition. At a livestreamed meeting Tuesday, OCC members voted 3-0 to approve a package of changes to state telecom rules in docket 2023-000005. Commissioners also agreed in the same matter to adjust directory rules and ban door-to-door Lifeline enrollment. The OCC also voted 3-0 for changes to state USF process rules (docket 2023-000005). All three commissioners opposed an alternative option to automatically approve staff-recommended changes to the contribution factor if the commission doesn’t issue an order within 31 days. AT&T Director-External Affairs Jason Constable said the outage reporting proposal was "extremely onerous and burdensome" and "technically infeasible." The commission instead should require carriers to provide, upon request, 24-hour contact information for discussing possible service outages, he said. Commissioners supported the contact-information approach with a plan to return to the item later. Contact information isn’t enough, said Bill Bullard, attorney for Consolidated Communications and other rural LECs. Bullard supported OCC staff’s original plan. "This is an ongoing problem that has gotten worse over the years." AT&T’s proposed requirement is already a standard part of the carrier’s contracts with CLECs, said Bullard. Commissioners also agreed with AT&T’s suggested change to a proposed rule requiring white pages directories only to areas where at least one person has requested a directory. Chairman Todd Hiett and Commissioner Bob Anthony supported Constable’s suggestion to increase that threshold to at least 10 requests, and to require publication every 18 months. CTIA warned last month that USF changes recommended by OCC staff to streamline the process could exacerbate the fund’s uncontrolled growth (see 2302270054).

Lumen, Ore. PUC Staff Close to Settlement on Price Plan
March 29, 2023 |State Telecom

The Oregon Public Utility Commission should extend a price plan for Lumen’s CenturyLink through Sept. 28 to give parties more time to negotiate an agreement for a successor plan, said the carrier, PUC staff and other parties in docket UM 1908. The PUC last week rejected Lumen’s challenge to an October decision in the same proceeding (see 2303220050). The parties held settlement talks Friday and “agreed that CenturyLink had made a meaningful settlement proposal that merits further investigation and discussion,” Lumen said in a joint motion Monday. Chief Administrative Law Judge Nolan Moser agreed to the three-month extension in an order Tuesday.

Ind. Legislators Want No Residency Restrictions for 911 Call Takers
March 29, 2023 |State Telecom

Indiana public safety agencies may not set residency requirements for 911 call takers, said a state bill passed by the legislature. The House voted 96-0 Monday for SB-43 and returned it to the Senate without amendments Tuesday. The Senate passed the bill in January in a 47-1 vote. SB-43 still needs a signature from Gov. Eric Holcomb (R).

Ga. Legislature Passes TikTok Ban
March 29, 2023 |State Telecom

A Georgia bill to ban TikTok on state devices passed the legislature Monday. The Senate agreed to the House’s amended SB-93 (see 2303210047). The bill next needs approval from Gov. Brian Kemp (R), who last year banned the Chinese-owned social media app by executive order. Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) signed a TikTok ban (HB-274) Friday. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) signed one Wednesday (see 2303230027). Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) Monday recommended a slight wording change to a Virginia bill (SB-1459) passed by the legislature.

Ark. Panel Likes Parental Consent for Social Media
March 29, 2023 by Adam Bender|State Telecom

Another state bill to require age verification and parental consent for social media advanced Tuesday. The Arkansas Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee unanimously voted by voice for SB-396 at a livestreamed hearing. Utah enacted a similar law last week (see 2303240035) and other states are advancing similar measures. The Arkansas proposal, which would apply only to new accounts and require kids under 18 to get parental consent to set up profiles on platforms that have at least $100 million in annual revenue, is “a reasonable solution to a serious problem,” said sponsor Sen. Tyler Dees (R). Some state senators asked about the proposal’s logistics, including how to prevent kids from faking their age and how to confirm the adult giving consent is a parent with that authority. NetChoice lobbyist Dustin Brighton urged the committee to reject the measure. "This isn't a parents' rights bill" but rather a "government knows better bill,” he said. Parents can handle this without government intervention, he said. NetChoice has concerns with the bill including a private right of action, Brighton added. Committee Vice Chair Reginald Murdock (D) and Sen. Mark Johnson (R) noted not all parents may be capable of regulating their kids’ social media usage, even though they should be. Sen. Justin Boyd (R) said in certain cases, as with smoking and movie ratings, “maybe the government does know better.”