Florida "finds itself at ground zero" on the question of whether do not call registry protections extend to sending text messages, with three different federal courts disagreeing, Bradley lawyers Alexis Buese and Stephen Parsley blogged last week. That raises the odds that the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will have to weigh in on the issue, they said. This year saw the Northern and Middle districts of Florida finding in separate decisions that texts aren't calls within the meaning of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act's DNC sections, but the Southern District decided the opposite, the lawyers wrote. Businesses shouldn't assume uniform protection across districts, and compliance strategies "should remain conservative until appellate clarity emerges."
Alabama state Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D) reintroduced legislation Wednesday proposing to create an Ebony Alert System for missing Black youths. Under HB-48, local law enforcement could request that the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency activate an Ebony Alert, with radio, TV, cable, satellite and social media systems "encouraged to cooperate" with disseminating it. The bill was referred to the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. Givan introduced similar legislation in 2024.
Florida residents' participation in Lifeline rose significantly from the end of June 2024 to the end of June 2025, the state's Public Service Commission said in a draft report released Tuesday. As of the end of June, there were 332,887 Lifeline subscribers in Florida, up 120,644 from a year earlier, the PSC said. The growth in subscribership was likely due to the number of wireless companies that were granted eligible telecommunications carrier designation, it said. A 2024 change by the Florida state legislature expanded the PSC's jurisdiction to grant ETC designation to wireless carriers for Lifeline purposes, and 13 wireless and wireline carriers were subsequently designated as such.
Steven Schwerbel, WISPA's director of state advocacy, discussed the options that data centers offer for “affordable middle-mile broadband connections” in testimony Wednesday before the Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and AI. The panel held a hearing on “demystifying” AI and the impact of data centers in the state.
The Public Advocates Office at the California Public Utilities Commission is urging the agency to sign off on the Sept. 4 agreement between the PAO and Verizon in the company's proposed Frontier Communications acquisition. In a filing Friday, the PAO said the agreement "provides substantial public benefits in fiber and fixed wireless access infrastructure deployment [and] affordable broadband access," and its adoption as part of the Verizon/Frontier approval "will ensure that Californians enjoy these substantial public benefits." Verizon and Frontier also filed proposed agreements Sept. 4 that they struck with the Communications Workers of America (see 2509050008) and the California Emerging Technology Fund.
New York state Sen. Joseph Griffo (R) on Monday introduced SB-8562, which would mandate that the suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline play calming music and regular "comfort" messages for callers on hold. The bill was referred to the Senate Rules Committee. An Assembly version of the legislation, AB-5583, was introduced in February by Rep. Marianne Buttenschon (D).
D.C. Council Health Committee Chairwoman Christina Henderson (I) on Monday introduced the 988 Lifeline Support and Sustainability Establishment Amendment Act (B-26-0462), which would create a dedicated funding source for Washington's 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and its behavioral health crisis response system. Henderson said the proposed monthly fee on landline, wireless, prepaid and VoIP services would generate an estimated $12.5 million annually for Lifeline and Community Response Team activities.
North Carolina has launched a $50 million broadband recovery grant program to assist ISPs in rebuilding and repairing infrastructure destroyed by 2024's Hurricane Helene. "With these investments, western North Carolinians can stay connected and more easily get back on their feet -- whether seeking resources, applying for a job online, starting a business, or going to school," Gov. Josh Stein (D) said Monday. The governor's office said Stein signed legislation in August allocating funds to help restore internet access in western North Carolina communities that saw significant damage from the hurricane. The deadline for applications is Nov. 24.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) on Friday signed into law a statewide ban on mobile phone use in schools, though he also criticized the legislation.
The Illinois Department of Corrections said Friday that it's rolling out a pilot program to provide free phone calls to people incarcerated in correctional facilities. Starting Monday, people in custody will get 775 free minutes monthly for domestic calls, it said. The minutes don't roll over, and the pilot is set to run through June.