Staff departures under the current administration are starting to have an effect on federal permitting reviews, said Jill Springer, NTIA's senior adviser for permitting, during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday. Amid a wave of departures from the federal government under President Donald Trump, Springer said the retirements are one of her biggest concerns.
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.
Private cellular networks are growing worldwide and can offer advantages over both Wi-Fi and more traditional networks offered by carriers, experts said Tuesday during RCR Wireless’ Industrial Wireless Forum. A variety of spectrum bands are being used, including the citizens broadband radio service band in the U.S., speakers said.
Sling TV violated the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) because its processes for consumers to opt out of sharing personal information are "confusing" and hard to effectuate, said Stacey Schesser, supervising deputy attorney general at the California DOJ.
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.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Tuesday asked FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Attorney General Pam Bondi to probe California's recent law clarifying that the state's Lifeline program “may provide assistance and services for individuals not lawfully present in the United States” under federal statutes (see 2509170065). The law also prohibits the state's Public Utilities Commission and Lifeline from sharing the immigration status of FCC Lifeline applicants or subscribers with other government entities without a valid subpoena or warrant. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed the law earlier this month (see 2510080007).
More than 1 million locations could remain unserved once BEAD is completed, even as states and territories are likely spending only about $21 billion of the $42 billion they have been allocated, New York Law School's Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute (ACLP) said in a pair of reports last week.
Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke of New York and House Communications Subcommittee member Nanette Barragan of California are leading 33 other House Democrats in opposing FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s proposal to supersede and suspend its 2024 incarcerated people’s communications services (IPCS) order (see 2506300068). The United Church of Christ, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and justice reform groups also urged the FCC earlier this week to “reverse course” on Carr’s IPCS draft order (see 2510210047), which the commission is slated to vote on at its Oct. 28 meeting.
American Press Institute names Robyn Tomlin, formerly McClatchy, executive director, effective Dec. 1, replacing Senior Vice President Samantha Ragland, who was interim executive director after Michael Bolden departed to lead University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism … Wiley adds Erin Joe, ex-Google, as special counsel in its privacy, cyber and data governance practice.
Telephone Consumer Protection Act lawyer Eric Troutman has filed as an independent candidate for a U.S. House seat representing parts of Orange County, California, he announced on his TCPAWorld blog Saturday. Democratic Rep. Dave Min is the incumbent.