Frontier Communications will try harder to meet Connecticut service-quality standards, the carrier said Tuesday at the state’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURA). Frontier filed exceptions to a PURA draft decision finding that the carrier violated two of five service quality metrics (see 2406180045). The carrier "plans to implement new processes and expanded and targeted resources to improve the two metrics at issue,” and will expand reports it gives PURA. However, pointing to a 74% reduction in its Connecticut landline count since 2015, Frontier argued that service quality metrics haven’t kept up with market changes. The Department of Public Utility Control, as PURA was then known, proposed updating the service standards for that reason back in 2009, Frontier said. "Assessing fines and penalties against Frontier for on average barely missing two metrics that require close to perfection for the last 10 years when these regulations were to be revised and replaced would be unfair and anticompetitive,” the carrier said. The Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel, which originally called for the PURA investigation, applauded the regulator’s draft decision. It “reads as the first action in a sequence of actions leading the largest telephone company in Connecticut ... back into full compliance with regulations established in support of state goals,” wrote OCC: An expected follow-up PURA proceeding to set penalties "will be the action which ensures that the vital communication service Frontier provides to Connecticut is reliable and meets the basic needs of its customers."

A second round of grants to expand high-speed internet access throughout Oklahoma opened Monday, Oklahoma Broadband Office (OBO) executive director Mike Sanders announced. Until July 8, ISPs can compete for part of $159 million in federal grant funds from the American Rescue Plan Act’s Capital Project Fund. In January, the OBO approved projects from the first round of grants and “the response from [that] exceeded our expectations, so we’re looking forward to building on that momentum,” Sanders said.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) might veto a digital equity bill (HB-2359), the governor’s office said Friday. The state legislature last month approved the bill that requires implementing a grant program by Jan. 10 (see 2405020014). However, Green included the measure on an “intent to veto list” of 17 bills. The governor isn’t required to veto every bill on the list, but can’t veto bills not on the list. He has until July 10 to issue a final veto or the measure would become law. “This bill would inhibit the development of small-scale, community-based networks in historically disadvantaged communities” in Hawaii, the governor said. “As a matter of fairness, providers, regardless of size, should be permitted to participate in the Digital Equity Grant Program.” In general, the governor’s veto list “reflects our need to prioritize [Hawaii’s] crippling high cost of living, the state’s affordable housing crisis and … families impacted by the Maui wildfires,” the governor said. “In addition to fiscal considerations, my decisions are based on legal concerns, improving government operations, and avoiding negative impacts on the public.”

The California Public Utilities Commission has it “backwards” in presuming that the carrier of last resort (COLR) remains necessary, Free State Foundation President Randolph May blogged Monday. The CPUC decided last week (see 2406200065) to open a proposed rulemaking that would update COLR regulations with “a rebuttable presumption that the COLR construct remains necessary, at least for certain individuals or communities in California.” May responded, “Given the undeniable change in the competitive landscape, driven by ongoing technological advancements … there should be a rebuttable presumption that the COLR construct remains unnecessary.”

The U.S. Supreme Court won’t review a Voting Rights Act case involving the Georgia Public Service Commission, the court said Monday. A text entry in case 23-1060 said the court denied the petition, which a group of Black voters filed. It sought review of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' finding that elections must remain statewide for the Georgia PSC’s five members, who represent five separate districts (see 2406040044). In a May 28 brief, Georgia called the case, involving Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a “splitless dispute” (see 2405290009). The petitioners "are very disappointed that the Supreme Court decided not to hear this case" and are "still reviewing our options for moving forward," their attorney, Bryan Sells, said.

Maryland will award a $2 million grant to provide broadband access to Smith Island, Jake Day, the state's Department of Housing and Community Development secretary, announced at a news conference Thursday. The funding comes from the Office of Statewide Broadband’s Network Infrastructure Program to Verizon and “demonstrates our commitment to work in partnership with communities in every corner of the state ... to ensure every Marylander is connected to high-speed internet by 2030,” Day said. Verizon Vice President-State Government Affairs Joseph Askew said the company "is excited to be partnering with Smith Island residents" and Gov. Wes Moore (D) "to bring ... Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) network to the Island."

Charter Communications will withdraw from a New Hampshire review of Consolidated Communications’ deal with Condor Holdings, said Charter at the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission on Thursday. “Charter no longer wishes to be a participant in the proceeding,” said the cable company, which in April sought conditions related to wholesale intercarrier relationships (see 2404290007). Charter filed a similar letter the same day to withdraw from reviews of the transaction at the Vermont Public Utility Commission and at the Maine PUC. Charter didn’t comment further Friday. New Hampshire towns Benton and Greenfield also recently withdrew as intervenors. New Hampshire Electric Cooperative withdrew objections to the deal last month after settling with Consolidated (see 2405210043). Consolidated seeks states' approvals to transfer indirect ownership and control of its local subsidiaries to Condor, a subsidiary of private equity firm Searchlight (docket DT 23-103).

North Carolina will spread $30 million dollars of federal grant money across state organizations to expand digital equity, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology said Tuesday. The money comes from the state’s Digital Champions grants, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. It “will help more families take part in our increasingly digital world,” Gov. Roy Cooper, R-N.C., said. Grant winners include community service, nonprofit, higher education and regional organizations such as libraries and schools.

Lumen’s CenturyLink violated Minnesota service quality rules and must quickly rehabilitate its network statewide, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission agreed 5-0 at a partly virtual Thursday meeting. "We have enough evidence in the record” showing a violation, said Chair Katie Sieben. Pointing to multiple photos of CenturyLink equipment in disrepair, Sieben added, “The company should have to repair equipment that looks like it's a disaster.” In addition, it should promptly repair all equipment causing service problems, the commission agreed. Commissioner John Tuma suggested delaying the effective date of the order to give the company more time to reach a settlement, but Sieben disagreed. Commissioner Valerie Means thinks it’s “unrealistic” to expect the company to reach a good agreement since it has already had many opportunities to negotiate. In addition to network rehab, the PUC required the carrier to halve its repair appointment windows to four hours and implement a preventative “plant pride” program. The PUC hasn't yet released the order. In April, the carrier pushed back sharply against a PUC administrative law judge’s recommendation requiring that it repair or replace copper. The company said it would cost “untold millions” (see 2404030012). “We do not believe the commission's decision is consistent with the law, the facts or the state's and our customers' interest in expanding high-speed fiber internet across Minnesota," said a Lumen spokesperson: The company hopes further talks "can lead to a more productive solution for all."

Lifting Minnesota limits on municipal broadband “may prove costly to local taxpayers and harmful to consumers of broadband services,” Free State Foundation Director-Policy Studies Seth Cooper blogged Thursday. Gov. Tim Walz (D) last month signed a bill that struck an old law letting municipalities buy or construct telephone exchanges, which also included broadband networks, only if a supermajority approved it in a local referendum election (see 2405240011). “Promoting broadband access to all of a community’s residents is a commendable goal,” Cooper wrote. “But labeling local votes of the people or taxpayer protections ‘barriers’ or ‘roadblocks’ effectively dismisses other important goals such as preserving local government integrity, respecting the will of local residents, and safeguarding taxpayers and beneficiaries of traditional government services.”