The broadband equity, access and deployment program risks leaving multi-dwelling units across the U.S. unserved or underserved, broadband access advocates tell us. States are taking a variety of approaches to address MDU connectivity in their BEAD plans submitted to NTIA. These range from requiring connectivity for individual units to, in some cases, not addressing MDUs at all, our reading of BEAD volume 2 plans found.

Most early comments supported a proposal in a November FCC NPRM letting schools and libraries apply for funding from the E-rate program for Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless internet access services that can be used off-premises. The agency approved the NPRM 3-2, with Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington dissenting (see 2311090028). Comments were due Monday in docket 21-31.

The California Privacy Protection Agency, the nation's first dedicated privacy regulator, has “many investigations underway,” Executive Director Ashkan Soltani said at a partially virtual CPPA board meeting Friday. Soltani estimated that the agency has received about 100 complaints from consumers since forming in 2021. The CPPA’s data broker registry is up and running after a 2023 bill transferred it to the agency from the California DOJ, Soltani said. Many have since registered and CPPA plans to publish a list of registrants in March, he said. Staff is preparing a proposed rulemaking package including cybersecurity risk assessments, automated decision-making technology for the next board meeting, said Soltani: Staff is incorporating feedback from board members after the Dec. 8 meeting (see 2312080064). In addition, staff is writing draft language and speaking with possible legislative authors for a potential bill that would require browser vendors to let users exercise their California privacy rights through a global opt-out signal, said Maureen Mahoney, deputy director-policy and legislation. “We’re confident that we have adequate resources to effectively sponsor the bill.” CPPA's board voted at last month’s meeting to advance the legislative proposal. The board considered a draft 2024-27 strategic plan with the mission statement: “Protect consumers’ privacy, ensure that businesses and consumers are well-informed about their rights and obligations, and vigorously enforce the law against businesses that violate consumers’ privacy rights.”

State video franchise holders must submit data to the California Public Utilities Commission, including on previous and existing customer service standards and “information about material breaches” of those standards, Administrative Law Judge Margery Melvin ruled Thursday. The CPUC needs the information for a rulemaking (docket R.23-04-006) to consider changes to video franchise requirements under the state’s Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act (DIVCA). The rulemaking responds to a 2021 law that revised DIVCA to require the commission to adopt video and broadband customer service requirements and adjudicate customer complaints (see 2311300030). Data is due Feb. 12.

California must ensure a permanent affordable broadband option for residents should the affordable connectivity program (ACP) run out of money, Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D) said during an Assembly Communications Committee meeting Wednesday. The committee voted 7-3 for Wilson’s AB-1588, despite concerns from some that the legislation could be stronger. The bill would allow the state to do business only with ISPs that have affordable plans costing at most $40 monthly for at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds. Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D) stressed that she will support the bill only if it’s amended to require at least 100/20 Mbps speeds. Wilson said she’s open to raising the floor to 100/20 Mbps and lowering the price ceiling to $30 if it helps pass the bill. Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D) said she couldn’t support the bill because of worries about its unintended harms to low-income residents. Nguyen suggested waiting until April to see what happens with ACP. The California Emerging Technology Fund supported the bill, but USTelecom, CTIA, Wireless Infrastructure Association and the state cable association opposed it. “Attempting to rate regulate the industry ... does not resolve federal inactivity” to renew ACP, said Amanda Gualderama, California Broadband and Video Association legislative and regulatory director. USTelecom lobbyist Yolanda Benson noted that Congress earlier that day introduced a bill to fund ACP (see 2401100056). Broadband prices have declined without government invention, she said. Also, the committee voted 10-1 for a bill that discourages Californians from calling state agencies’ toll-free numbers. AB-1135 wouldn’t force agencies to decommission their 800 numbers but would require they advertise local area code numbers instead, said sponsor Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D). He said California spends $7 million annually for toll-free numbers, even though most residents have phone plans with unlimited minutes. The government pays only when someone uses the 800 number, so encouraging use of toll numbers would save cash, he said. Toll-free numbers remain important for those still relying on landlines, said The Utility Reform Network lobbyist Ignacio Hernandez. The consumer advocate is glad the bill wouldn’t get rid of toll-free numbers, but believes it should direct agencies to continue displaying them as an option.

Telecommunications Law Professionals adds Lawler Metzger’s Emily Daniels and Andrew Fois as a member and an associate, respectively, and also adds Kellogg Hansen’s Ryan Walsh as an associate ... Sinclair hires former NAB Deputy General Counsel Patrick McFadden as senior vice president-global public policy and communications (see 2401080070) ... Lumen Technologies promotes Ashley Haynes-Gaspar to executive vice president-chief revenue officer ... Twilio promotes Khozema Shipchandler to CEO and adds him to its board, succeeding co-founder Jeff Lawson, leaving as CEO and as a board member; Jeff Epstein, lead independent director since 2017, appointed board chair.

The California Public Utilities Commission extended the deadline 30 days, until Feb. 7, for Verizon and consumer advocates to complete negotiating a settlement on migrating TracFone customers still using non-Verizon networks. CPUC Administrative Law Judge Thomas Glegola granted Verizon’s request on Friday in docket A.20-11-001. The parties already agree in principle on most issues, the request said.

The Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications Services Sector is reviewing RGTN USA's direct number access authorization request, said a DOJ letter to the FCC posted Wednesday in docket 23-335. An interconnected VoIP provider, RGTN requested numbers in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas (see 2309210055). The agency will notify the FCC when its initial request for information is complete and the 120-day initial review can begin, the letter said.

Verizon could soon finalize a possible settlement with The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and Center for Accessible Technology (CforAT) related to migrating TracFone customers still using non-Verizon networks, the carrier said Wednesday at the California Public Utilities Commission. “The parties have an agreement in principle on most terms and are close to resolving the remaining terms,” Verizon emailed Administrative Law Judge Thomas Glegola. The email was shared with the service list in docket A.20-11-001. While Verizon said the deal could be done in two weeks, it asked Glegola for 30 days -- until Feb. 7 -- to conclude the settlement. Verizon said CforAT and TURN support the extension. In another docket, A.23-09-006, Frontier Communications told the CPUC that it doesn’t necessarily oppose Blue Casa’s application to relinquish its eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designation and discontinue local exchange and interexchange services in AT&T and Frontier territory. But the commission should impose “reasonable conditions on Blue Casa to ensure a fair and reasonable mass migration, including setting a reasonable timeframe for any required mass migration and Blue Casa’s proposed market exit,” Frontier wrote Wednesday. “Frontier estimates that approximately eight to ten weeks from the date of the Commission’s approval of the Application would be needed to migrate the 639 Blue Casa customers that are in Frontier’s service area.” Also, the CPUC should condition the exit on Blue Casa paying its outstanding balance to Frontier and reimbursing “Frontier’s reasonable costs for implementing any forced mass migration.” Also Wednesday, CPUC Administrative Law Judge Patricia Miles set a preconference hearing for Jan. 22 on Consolidated Communications' transfer of indirect ownership and control of its California and enterprise subsidiaries to Condor Holdings. Consolidated and Condor sought New Hampshire approval last week (see 2401020037).