A Kansas bill introduced last week would require public school boards and private school governing entities in the state to adopt policies and procedures barring student use of personal electronic communications devices during instructional time. SB-302 calls for devices to be off and inaccessible during that time.
Indiana's 911 service prepaid wireless charge on retail transactions would go from $1 to $2, as would monthly statewide 911 fees, under SB-273, introduced last week by Sen. Mark Spencer (D). The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation. The additional revenue would be used to support Statewide 911 Board operations and to operate and maintain the state's 911 system.
Companion caller ID bills filed last week with the Florida House and Senate would bar transmission of misleading or inaccurate caller identification information and require telecommunications providers to give the phone number and location from which each call originates. SB-1516, introduced by Sen. Ileana Garcia (R), and HB-1299, introduced by Rep. Kevin Steele (R), would also require telecom companies to block calls and texts containing "manipulated" caller ID information.
NTIA has signed off on Missouri's final BEAD proposal, Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) said Thursday. The $814 million spending plan will bring connectivity to more than 200,000 unserved and underserved locations across the state, he said. Missouri reported that 166,750 locations (82%) would be served by fiber connectivity, 23,378 by low earth orbit satellite, 11,494 by fixed wireless and 2,212 by coaxial cable. The state, which was allocated $1.7 billion under BEAD, noted that it's awaiting NTIA guidance on how it can use the remaining $900 million "for crucial investments in Missouri’s economic competitiveness."
Mississippi's local school boards would be required to come up with "bell-to-bell" school cellphone ban policies under HB-46, introduced Wednesday by state Rep. Omeria Scott (D). The legislation would also prohibit schools from suspending or expelling students for violating the policies.
A proposed private right of action will be removed from a New Hampshire age-verification bill that seeks to restrict children’s access to porn, said its sponsor, Sen. Tara Reardon (D), at a livestreamed state Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday. Reardon said her planned amendment to SB-648 would also allow companies to assert rights under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
The Vermont House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure raised the question Wednesday of how much of the Vermont Broadband Consumer Protection and Competition Act would potentially be preempted by federal law. The topic was discussed during a committee hearing on HB-11, which was introduced last year (see 2501160049). Because so much online activity is interstate, it’s not clear what oversight authority is left for states, said Maria Royle, a lawyer with the state Office of Legislative Counsel.
Under a bill prefiled Tuesday by Arizona state Rep. Nick Kupper (R), software from Chinese companies couldn't be used for critical communications infrastructure in the state. HB-2134 would also require that by Dec. 31 of every year, the Arizona Corporation Commission put out a list of all prohibited technologies that can't attach to critical communications infrastructure or be used by that infrastructure's operating system. The prohibited technology would include Chinese-produced Wi-Fi 7 routers and modems, Chinese battery and smart meter technology, and any product containing cellular IoT modules produced by a Chinese company.
An ISP privacy bill by Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R) has advanced in the state legislature. The Senate Consumer Protection Committee unanimously cleared S-289, sending the measure to the Ways and Means Committee, said a Wednesday update to the Massachusetts General Court’s website.
New Mexico aims to have universal access to at least 100/20 Mbps terrestrial-based broadband connectivity by 2029, according to its Office of Broadband Access and Expansion's three-year statewide broadband plan. The plan, released last week, outlined the state's commitment that all terrestrial networks funded by state grant programs will offer 100 Mbps symmetrical speeds, except in "extraordinary circumstances" where only 100/20 Mbps can be offered. The state also said it will offer "support" to overcome adoption challenges, including programs aimed at affordability, access to devices and digital literacy training.