Frontier received an OK of its pending Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring Wednesday from Connecticut's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority in a 3-0 vote. Conditions include a requirement that Frontier continues to negotiate in good faith on the transfer of ownership interest and jointly owned utility poles, a series of status reports that PURA will monitor and assign a mediation team if significant progress isn't made, and that the Southern New England Telephone Company expand its fiber to the premises network to at least 100,000 additional locations by the end of 2024. Frontier must also report any changes in executive leadership and commit to maintaining its corporate headquarters in Connecticut for two years. Employee wages and benefits, including any expired collective bargaining agreements in place within the date of Frontier filing for bankruptcy, must be assumed by the company. SNET is also "barred from permitting a net reduction due to involuntary attrition in the number of SNET employee technicians and customer service representatives" in the state for two years. The California Public Utilities Commission is the final state to consider Frontier's restructuring and is expected to vote in mid-March (see 2102020046).
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission revoked Viasat’s designation as an eligible telecom carrier for failing to provide Lifeline service. The PSC required revocation, which can be reversed, of a February 2019 order granting ETC status to Viasat so the company could receive Connect America Fund Phase II support, said Monday's order. The commission earlier revoked designation of six other ETCs that failed to provide Lifeline service. Viasat is “working with the PSC to address what we believe was a misapplication of relevant requirements," a company spokesperson emailed Tuesday.
Frontier Communications urged mid-March OK of its pending bankruptcy reorganization at the California Public Utilities Commission. Frontier and settlement parties The Utility Reform Network, Communications Workers of America and the CPUC Public Advocates Office met virtually Thursday with an aide to Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves, the parties said Monday in docket A.20-05-010. Frontier faces a March 30 deadline to emerge from bankruptcy under its court-approved plan, it said: The CPUC must issue a proposed decision by Feb. 16 to get it on the March 18 meeting agenda.
Michigan cable and video subscribers decreased 75,000 to 1.6 million last year as the number of operators dropped by one, the Michigan Public Service Commission reported Monday. Customers declined five straight years, from 2.3 million in 2015, “part of a nationwide trend of consumers unsubscribing from cable-video services in favor of internet streaming services,” the PSC said.
New York state Sen. George Borrello (R) condemned Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) Monday for letting die a bill to require the Public Service Commission to study and map broadband availability, affordability and reliability. Cuomo pocket vetoed S-8805 by not signing in time, Borrello said. “Suppressing this study and continuing to increase burdens on broadband providers with excessive taxes, fees and regulations is actually widening the digital divide.” Cuomo’s office didn’t comment by our deadline.
Local government groups supported a proposed California pilot to require investor-owned utilities to install fiber when rebuilding facilities after a wildfire or other natural disaster. “With AT&T’s announcement that it will no longer offer DSL service, and has no plans to build upgraded infrastructure in areas that are without alternative offerings (such as fiber), IOU installed conduit may be the only opportunity for these residents to have access to adequate broadband connectivity,” Rural County Representatives of California commented Monday in docket 20-09-001 at the California Public Utilities Commission. Also backing the proposed pilot, Next Century Cities said the CPUC should consult localities, teachers and librarians on how to use a $1 million. CTIA raised “serious concerns” with the proposed pilot, saying it would “interfere with competition in contravention of California and federal laws requiring the Commission to safeguard competitive neutrality in the communications marketplace.” Energy ratepayers shouldn’t finance such construction, CTIA said: “Communications companies, as significant energy ratepayers, should not be required to fund the overbuilding of their networks.”
The Nebraska Public Service Commission could expand to seven members from five if lawmakers pass LB-293. The unicameral legislature's Transportation and Telecom panel weighed the bill by Sen. Mike Flood (R) at a livestreamed hearing Monday. Seven elected members would mean “better representation and accessibility,” Flood said. “Every county and every city has its own unique story and its own telecommunications issues,” but one commissioner, Mary Ridder (R), now represents half the state’s geographic area, he said. The bill would let commissioners hold other jobs if not in regulated industries, he said.
Virginia privacy and broadband bills cleared their origin chambers Friday. The House voted 89-9 for HB-2307, which would let consumers access, correct, delete and obtain copies of personal data, plus opt out of targeted advertising. Delegates voted 99-0 for HB-2304 to make permanent a pilot program letting electric utilities petition the State Corporation Commission to provide broadband to unserved areas. The Senate voted 28-7 that day for the similar co-op bill SB-1413 and 36-1 for SB-1334 to open an existing broadband pilot program to municipalities and government-owned broadband authorities (see 2101260028).
New Jersey senators supported a proposed commission to study municipal broadband. The Senate voted 32-1 Thursday for A-850, which cleared the Assembly over the summer (see 2008110023). The Assembly must concur with Senate changes before the bill can go to Gov. Phil Murphy (D).
Net neutrality bills surfaced in two Northeastern state legislatures. In Connecticut, Rep. Matt Blumenthal (D) Friday proposed HB-6155 to require ISPs with state contracts to adopt open-internet policies. It follows HB-5251, introduced Jan. 22, to require the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to require net neutrality. In New York, Senate Telecom Committee Chairman Kevin Parker (D) Thursday introduced a state-contracts net neutrality bill (SB-3308) that also creates a $250 million revolving fund for municipal ISPs. It’s like AB-1239, introduced Jan. 7. Assembly member Clyde Vanel (D) floated AB-3910 Thursday to bolster Public Service Commission ISP authority and require net neutrality. Assembly member Patricia Fahy (D) proposed a state-contract approach Wednesday in AB-3479, co-sponsored by Vanel and 30 other members. Other states with net neutrality bills this session include Missouri, Rhode Island and Texas. Some Democrats support state bills even with President Joe Biden and a new FCC, while others say they feel less pressure (see 2012080045).