CTIA urged the FCC to put the onus on covered service providers (CSPs) rather than originating service providers (OSPs) if the agency imposes 988 outage reporting obligations, the subject of a January NPRM (see 2301040056). “As 988 communications are routed centrally to a single, nationwide response point, unlike 911 communications, which are routed to local Public Safety Answering Points, it is unclear how OSPs could provide actionable information about local outages to the nationwide 988 Lifeline or other stakeholders,” CTIA said, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 23-5. AT&T agreed rules “must reflect the fundamental differences in service architecture between 911 and 988.” Competitive Carriers Association members don’t “oppose some level of 988 outage reporting and notification,” but also don’t “support duplicative or potentially confusing efforts,” CCA said: If the FCC imposes a 988 outage notification requirement on OSPs, “in many cases, a 30-minute timeframe would be unreasonable and unrealistic, particularly for OSPs utilizing vendors for 988 solutions. Any 988 outage reporting requirement should enable realistic compliance.” The National Emergency Number Association said the FCC rightly proposes rules based on 911 outage reporting requirements approved last year (see 2211170051). The FCC should also require that PSAPs be alerted of 988 outages, NENA said: “If 988 service is not available to a person having a mental health crisis, and they do not have knowledge of an alternative means such as dedicated online chat services, then they may decide to dial 9-1-1 instead.” The group said the 988 system should plan to eventually migrate to next-generation 911 technologies “as a matter of building a more reliable, equitable life-saving service for people with mental health crises.”

Viiz Communications’ CEO Norman Phipps and others from the company met with FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr, Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington about the company’s “efforts to develop and make available customized technology solutions and support services for use in connection with emergency communications,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 15-80. “Viiz has compiled the most comprehensive database of U.S.-based primary and secondary [public safety answering points] -- verifying information on more than 97 percent of all such” public safety answering points nationwide, Viiz said: The database can be used by originating service providers “and covered 911 service providers to efficiently and affordably comply with the Commission’s 911 outage notification requirements.”

The Florida legislature passed changes to the state telemarketing law that attorneys say would undercut class-action complaints under the Florida Telephone Solicitation Act. Senators voted 29-10 Tuesday for HB-761, which would narrow the FTSA’s definition of autodialer (see 2304260035). On Wednesday, the state House voted 115-0 for the Senate-passed SB-1418, which aims to support the state’s transition to next-generation 911. The bills need approval of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). The House also passed a comprehensive privacy bill with amendments Wednesday (see 2305030040).

Texas House members showed wide support for creating a state fund for broadband infrastructure this week, voting 137-7 for a proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday on its second reading. On Thursday, the Senate received HJR-125 and the House voted 140-8 for companion bill HB-9 on third and final reading. Rural carriers applauded the House for passing the measures, which they said would help fill gaps from the state not fully funding Texas USF. “We will now shift our focus to the Senate where we hope to find similar support,” said Texas Telephone Association (TTA) President Mark Seale.

An update to Florida’s telemarketing law passed the state House in a 99-14 vote Wednesday. HB-761 goes next to the Senate. It would narrow the definition of autodialer to an automated system used for selection “and” dialing of phone numbers; existing law says “or.” It would also add that an “act demonstrating consent,” which might include a simple yes, counts as a signature for giving express written consent. The Senate version (SB-1308) cleared the Rules Committee in a 17-2 vote Monday. The full Senate is scheduled to vote Friday on a comprehensive privacy bill (SB-262) that also passed Rules Monday (see 2304240045). The Senate also plans to vote Friday on SB-1418, which aims to support the state’s transition to next-generation 911. The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee voted 19-0 for the 911 bill Tuesday. The telemarketing bill “would drastically alter the [Florida Telephone Solicitation Act] and undercut current FTSA cases,” attorney Eric Troutman blogged Wednesday. If it passes the Senate and gets a signature from Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), “the FTSA is essentially dead moving forward and defendants facing current FTSA claims have a very good argument that the class portions of the case must be stricken.”

The California Public Utilities Commission may vote June 8 on a Wednesday proposed decision to approve two pilot programs to stack California LifeLine and federal affordable connectivity program (ACP) benefits. Under the draft in docket R.20-02-008, the CPUC would approve a wireline broadband pilot that would use ACP dollars to test if letting California LifeLine provider affiliates offer broadband to participants will increase program participation by ISPs while maintaining program rule compliance. It would also check if LifeLine can ensure participants with stand-alone broadband service can make 911 calls through a separate service plan and if allowing LifeLine subsidies for stand-alone wireline broadband will increase participation, the draft said. Also, the CPUC would approve a wireless broadband pilot that would use ACP funding “to test how much mobile and hotspot data California LifeLine participants would use if they had unlimited data, including a high allotment of high-speed mobile data, a substantial allotment of high-speed hotspot data” and a capable mobile device, said the proposal. Participants in each pilot would get access to up to $57.15 -- or up to $102.15 on tribal lands -- of combined state and federal support for plans. The CPUC proposed testing LifeLine and ACP subsidy stacking after scrapping an earlier proposal (see 2210140068). Meanwhile, state legislators are considering a bill to allow such combinations (see 2304200044).

Noting the FCC fine stemming from its VoIP-related 911 outage (see 304240063), Shentel emailed us Tuesday it "takes our 911 obligations very seriously, and we have already implemented new processes and procedures to prevent similar events from happening in the future." It said callers in the outage experienced one-way audio, but their numbers and locations "were successfully delivered to the 911 call center, and 911 operators were able to place return calls to communicate with the 911 callers."

Shentel has agreed to a $227,200 fine stemming from a VoIP-related 911 outage between April 6-22, 2022, in four West Virginia counties, per an Enforcement Bureau order Monday. The cable operators also will put in place a compliance plan that includes it developing or improving its identification of risks that could result in 911 disruptions and its response to those outages, the order said. Shentel didn't comment.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed two 911 bills Thursday. The governor signed SB-316 to ask the statewide 911 board to study interoperability of computer-aided dispatch systems used by public safety answering points. Also, Holcomb signed SB-43 to stop state public safety agencies from setting residency requirements for 911 call takers.

The California Assembly Communications Committee cleared amended bills including on video franchising, local broadband permits and low-income benefits at a webcast hearing Wednesday. Also, the committee unanimously passed a consent agenda including bills on 911 public education (AB-296) and grants for emergency communications on fairgrounds (AB-415). The committee voted 10-2 to send to the Appropriations Committee a bill (AB-41) aimed at tightening digital equity requirements in the state’s video franchise law. Sponsor Chris Holden (D), who chairs the Appropriations panel, said the 2006 Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act approach of self-regulation through competition failed to spread services to everyone within franchise areas. The California Broadband & Video Association thinks the proposed replacement, the Digital Equity in Video Franchising Act, would be “generally unfeasible,” said Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy Director Amanda Gualderama. The state cable association was joined by USTelecom in opposition. The Communications Committee voted 13-0 for AB-965, which would set a 60-day shot clock for local governments to decide broadband permit applications or have them deemed granted. It will go to the Local Government Committee next. Supporters included Crown Castle, CTIA, USTelecom and the Wireless Infrastructure Association. But the California Municipal Utilities Association raised concerns it duplicates previous rules including the FCC’s small-cells order. The Assembly panel voted 13-0 for AB-1231 to allow low-income consumers to stack benefits from California LifeLine, federal Lifeline and the affordable connectivity program. It goes next to Appropriations. "The bill is needed because the CPUC has prohibited Californian consumers from combining their California LifeLine and ACP benefits to maximize the amount of data they receive,” said TruConnect Chief Compliance Officer Danielle Perry, who is also a National Lifeline Association board member. The Utility Reform Network worries the bill doesn’t provide enough accountability on providers, said TURN lobbyist Ignacio Hernandez: Lawmakers should strengthen it or allow the CPUC to make rules. The commission already has an open proceeding on the issue, he noted. Supporting AB-1231, Communications Committee Chair Tasha Boerner Horvath (D) said she thinks the CPUC has overly restricted access for low-income people.