New York won settlements with two mobile app developers under investigation for failing to disclose data collection practices in privacy policies, said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in a Thursday news release. AB Mobile Apps and Bizness Apps agreed to add clearly written privacy policies to apps, he said. The attorney general didn’t find that the developers misused personal information or disclosed it to third parties. “New Yorkers have a right to know if a company collects and uses their personal information,” said Schneiderman. “In an age where data itself has become a commodity, companies must post privacy policies in a way that clearly and conspicuously discloses their data collection practices.”

The California Public Utilities Commission denied a cable industry petition to extend the right-of-way rights of commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) providers to cable wireless facilities. Commissioners unanimously adopted at the CPUC’s Thursday meeting the decision to deny the California Cable and Telecommunications Association petition. The denial was expected, with CCTA trying to pull its petition before the meeting, but the CPUC rejected withdrawal because it said it was faster to deny the petition without prejudice (see 1702070018). While denying the petition, the decision says cable companies wishing to provide wireless services may do so by obtaining status as a CMRS carrier by filing a wireless identification registration. The decision didn’t address a similar petition by the Wireless Infrastructure Association to extend the CMRS right-of-way rules to wireless pole attachments by CLECs.

The Connected City Advisory Board unveiled a guide for aspiring smart cities. The Wireless Broadband Alliance committee report provides information to governments developing connected-city plans, including factors to consider, what technology is required and case studies. “The CCAB’s Blueprint will enable cities to grow partnerships, and share essential knowledge that will essentially help better the lives of millions,” said Wireless Broadband Alliance CEO Shrikant Shenwai.

Alabama got three submissions on its FirstNet request for proposals seeking alternative radio access network plans, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Wednesday. The deadline was Jan. 31. “Over the next 90 days, these submissions will be evaluated based on specific requirements of the RFP and the technical requirements set forth by FirstNet,” ALEA said. FirstNet could release a decision in the next month or two on a vendor partner to build its network, with state outreach expected to be a big challenge (see 1702020056).

ISPs supported an effort to spread broadband to Arizona rural schools through the state USF but urged the Arizona Corporation Commission to place limits on how money is used and how much is collected. The ACC held a workshop on the initiative last month (see 1701300033). “This initiative should target rural areas [and] should be of limited duration and for a limited amount, and should limit support to commercially-provisioned, finished services,” CenturyLink commented Tuesday in docket RT-00000H-97-0137. Cox said the program should be limited to last-mile projects and not support overbuilding where another carrier has facilities. Cox and CenturyLink agreed the program shouldn't fund dark fiber. AT&T supported CenturyLink and Cox in proposing to cap the rural schools broadband fund at $8 million. Cox and AT&T said the ACC should limit collection of the funds for one year, while CenturyLink proposed two years.

Consumer Watchdog, alleging self-driving truck company Otto is illegally testing its technology on California roads, wants the Department of Motor Vehicles to revoke the Uber-owned company's registrations. John Simpson, the advocacy group's privacy project director, said in a Wednesday news release that 21 companies have gotten permits to test their self-driving tech "with no problem. Moreover, self-driving vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds cannot be tested in the state under current regulations. Otto’s robot trucks fail on both counts. They have no permits and they weigh too much.” Consumer Watchdog, which filed its complaint with the DMV Tuesday, also said Uber can't be trusted because it's doing mapping operations in San Francisco with cars that aren't operating in self-driving mode. "Based on Otto’s behavior, there is absolutely no reason to take Uber’s word for anything," said Simpson, who wants Uber's car registrations to be revoked again. In December, the company began a self-driving pilot in San Francisco similar to Pittsburgh but the DMV pulled the cars' registrations after the company refused to get a permit to test the technology. Uber said at the time it didn't need a test permit because a human was either controlling or monitoring the cars (see 1701300012). The company didn't comment now.

The Arizona Corporation Commission approved an order to align Lifeline eligibility requirements with FCC updates to the low-income program. Commissioners cleared the order as part of the consent agenda at their Tuesday meeting. The commission also ordered Arizona eligible telecom carriers to remove Link Up from Arizona tariffs, except for ETCs receiving high-cost support on tribal lands. “All Arizona ETCs are expected to keep current with and to comply with all FCC rules and regulations governing the provision of Lifeline services,” the commission said in the Jan. 25 proposed decision.

The Tennessee House introduced broadband legislation proposed by Gov. Bill Haslam (R) that would provide $45 million in broadband grants and tax credits, and allow nonprofit electric cooperatives to provide retail broadband service. House Leader Glen Casada (R) and Rep. David Hawk (R) introduced HB-529, and Senate Leader Mark Norris (R) is expected to introduce the Senate version (see 1701270037). Also Wednesday, Sen. Steve Southerland (R) introduced SB-528 -- the Senate version of HB-194 -- a bill to create a commission to coordinate state broadband policies. Tennessee is one state community broadband advocates are watching this year for state legislative action (see 1701260022).

It’s faster to deny a petition on right-of-way rules by the California Cable and Telecommunications Association than to allow CCTA to withdraw it, the California Public Utilities Commission said in a proposed decision released Monday. Commissioners are to vote on denying the CCTA petition at their Thursday meeting. After learning last month that the CPUC planned to deny, CCTA asked to pull the petition to extend right-of-way (ROW) rules for commercial mobile radio services to cable (see 1701240038). Allowing the association to withdraw “would require the Commission to expend significant additional time and resources, including issuance of a new proposed decision that grants CCTA’s motion to withdraw Petition 16-07-009,” the draft said. The commission proposed to deny the petition without prejudice. “Upon receipt of further information in another proceeding, the Commission may choose to revisit its holding in today’s decision to deny the Petition,” the draft said. The draft didn’t address a similar petition by the Wireless Infrastructure Association to extend the CMRS right-of-way rules to wireless pole attachments by CLECs. CCTA declined to comment.

The Wireless Infrastructure Association supported siting legislation in Virginia requiring localities to quickly review small-cells and other wireless infrastructure applications. The Senate passed SB-1282 last week. The House rejected a similar bill Monday but is expected to vote soon on the Senate version (see 1702060054). The bill would require localities to review a small-cell application within 60 days and other wireless infrastructure within 150 days, while limiting the reasons why a locality could say no to small cells. “This legislation will go a long way to eliminate delays and speed deployments for all wireless infrastructure including small facilities attached to existing structures,” WIA Senior Government Affairs Counsel Van Bloys emailed. “This bill also establishes reasonable deployment practices like encouraging collocations of communications facilities on existing structures and workable height limits for deployments in the rights-of-way. The only way cities and towns of all sizes are going to remain connected is through more wireless infrastructure.”