The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts should block the state’s lawsuit against Meta and its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, said TechFreedom in an amicus brief filed Tuesday (docket SJC-13747). The state’s lawsuit targeting “addictive” features of the social media platforms violates Section 230 of the Communications Act, TechFreedom said. “The supposedly ‘addictive’ features the Commonwealth challenges are nothing more than publishing decisions: the cadence of content delivery (autoplay), the quantity of content delivered (infinite scroll), and the choice of what content to highlight (notifications),” said the filing. Those features are “classic editorial decisions” about displaying third-party material and “fall squarely” within Section 230’s protections for platforms from litigation over content posted by users, the group said.
Pacific Bell is appealing the California Public Utility Commission's decision to award The Utility Reform Network (TURN) $270,859 in expenses that the group accrued as intervenor in fighting Pacific Bell's unsuccessful application to get relief from its carrier of last resort obligation. In an application for rehearing posted Tuesday, the company said TURN's activities didn't substantially contribute to the dismissal decision, and the award pays TURN for ex parte presentation work, even though CPUC precedent bars compensation for such work.
The Pennsylvania Senate Communications and Technology Committee voted 6-5 on Tuesday to adopt SB-491, which would eliminate a variety of state regulations on wireline phone service. Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R), who introduced the bill, said wireline companies represent fewer than 10% of voice subscriptions in the state but are at a competitive disadvantage to other types of providers due to a strict, archaic legacy regulatory framework.
New York state Sen. Alexis Weik (R) on Friday introduced SB-8552, which would bar advertising cannabis and cannabis products on TV and radio. Violations would carry a $5,000 fine and revocation of license or registration. The bill was referred to the Senate Rules Committee.
Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R) on Friday introduced SB-1078, which would extend the state's $1.95 911 surcharge until Feb. 1, 2029. The surcharge is set to expire Jan. 31. A similar bill was introduced in the Pennsylvania House last week (see 2510240039). The Senate bill was referred to that chamber's Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
The West Virginia Public Service Commission signed off on Verizon's acquisition of Frontier Communications on the condition that Verizon set aside at least $60 million to improve copper service for plain old telephone service (POTS) subscribers. In an order Friday, the PSC said Verizon had committed to hiring 25 additional full-time technicians in West Virginia before the end of 2026, and it will remain the carrier of last resort, but there were questions about whether the joint stipulation would assure the provision of adequate and reliable service. That stipulation addresses broadband but not copper service, where service failures "remain pervasive." The commission said Verizon must agree to focus on improved POTS service using copper or alternative methods and to back up that commitment by establishing an escrow fund for upgrading, maintaining and replacing the state's copper network.
Michigan state Rep. Mike Harris (R) on Thursday introduced HB-5123, which would modify the state's uniform video services local franchise law and make clear that streaming services and direct-to-home satellite services don't count as video service providers under the law. Meanwhile, Rep. Will Snyder (D) introduced HB-5124, which would revise the franchise law by changing the date when the state Public Service Commission provides its annual report to the governor and legislature on the status of video services competition in Michigan from Feb. 1 to April 1. HB-5124 would also require video service providers to register with the state PSC.
Pennsylvania Rep. Brenda Pugh (R) last week introduced HB-1982, which extends the state's $1.95 911 surcharge that's set to expire Jan. 31, to Jan. 31, 2029. The bill was referred to the Pennsylvania House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. The surcharge is levied on retail wireless phone and prepaid cellphone minutes, as well as phone card transactions.
The Michigan Legislature on Tuesday passed HB-4375 and HB-4376, which together amend the state's sales tax and use tax rules to exclude any credit used as partial retail payment for a portable electronic device from the taxable price of that device.
The inclusion of text messages in Texas' telemarketing law is one of several expanded consumer protections that went into effect Sept. 1, Epstein Becker lawyers John Barry and Lisa Pierce Reisz wrote Monday. Among other changes to the law, it now requires telemarketing businesses to register with the Texas secretary of state each location from which telephone solicitations are made, as well as post a $10,000 security bond and comply with new disclosure requirements for calls and texts, the lawyers said. The changes also introduced penalties for violations, they said, adding that Texas is one of several states to beef up their versions of what is already a complex federal regulatory framework.