AT&T is reviewing and will respond to a proposed $3.75 million fine for not providing next-generation 911 in California, a spokesperson said Thursday. A California Public Utilities Commission administrative law judge said the telco showed “willful disregard” of its public safety obligation (see 2004020058).
AT&T faces a $3.75 million fine for “willful disregard” of the “obligation to ensure the public’s safety,” California Public Utilities Commission Administrative Law Judge Karl Bemesderfer wrote in a proposed decision Thursday in docket 18-03-011. AT&T must file next-generation 911 tariffs by April 22 or the fine increases to $7.5 million “and will continue to accumulate interest and late payment penalties.” Any appeal is due before May 4 when it becomes final. AT&T said in January the agency can’t force it to provide NG-911 (see 2001070008). The carrier didn’t comment Thursday.
The Colorado Broadband Office launched a COVID-19 website with news and resources on internet connectivity. Georgia Public Service Commission members, staff and interested parties may join Thursday’s meeting only via the web, the PSC said Wednesday.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signed a government facial recognition bill Tuesday. The legislature passed SB-6280 earlier this month while failing to agree to a comprehensive privacy bill that included private sector facial recognition rules (see 2003130070). Sen. Joe Nguyen (D) said his bill will bring “regulatory checks and balances” to a technology that’s being used.
Using a cellphone in a vehicle is a misdemeanor in South Dakota after Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed HB-1169. The law exempts public safety and calls for emergency purposes, plus hands-free operations. Also Friday, Noem signed HB-1189 to appropriate $5 million to expand rural broadband and declare an emergency. “We may need to come back in June and make drastic changes to both the current budget and next year’s fiscal year budget,” she said.
FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly applauded West Virginia for enacting a law on the state’s diversion of 911 fee revenue to unrelated purposes (see 2001070025). Gov. Jim Justice (R) signed SB-579 Wednesday, which clarifies how money is used by establishing three separate funds, for 911, public safety wireless and cell towers. “Not perfect but stops consumer deception,” O’Rielly tweeted Friday. Justice worked with O’Rielly and FCC staff, the GOP commissioner said. That leaves Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York and at least one Nevada county on the FCC’s list of diverters (see 1912190077). Justice also signed a bill (HB-4619) Wednesday empowering electric utilities to deploy middle-mile fiber broadband (see 2003090033).
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).
The FCC Wireless Bureau granted special temporary authority Thursday to AT&T to use AWS-4 spectrum on a loan from Dish Network to beef up coverage in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands during the COVID-19 pandemic. The FCC approved use for 60 days, said a news release.
The California Public Utilities Commission extended comment deadlines by two weeks in its emergency disaster relief rulemaking in docket R.18-03-011. Comments are now due April 10, replies April 17, CPUC Administrative Law Judge Colin Rizzo ruled Wednesday. The agency is weighing backup power and other communications network resiliency rules (see 2003090026).
T-Mobile/Sprint foes see "legal error" in the California Public Utilities Commission-proposed OK of the wireless deal. The Utility Reform Network, CPUC Public Advocates Office and Communication Workers of America had a March 19 call with an aide to assigned Commissioner Cliff Rechtschaffen, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket A.18-07-011. The groups raised concerns about the proposal not including “necessary findings” or “structure appropriate enforcement mechanism,” and urged the CPUC to revise it. Commissioners may vote April 16 (see 2003160043).