The Utility Reform Network urged the California Public Utilities Commission to align its Lifeline rules with the FCC's federal program regarding the phase-out for voice-only support. In a filing posted Monday, TURN noted that the FCC again extended its phase-out and urged that CPUC deny AT&T's petition to relinquish its designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier based on the previous end date of the federal subsidy. The latest FCC extension order "continues to recognize the same issues TURN has raised throughout this proceeding [when wireline providers] do not (or choose not to) receive federal Lifeline subsidies for voice service," including harm to subscribers "who lose service or who cannot retain an affordable plan."
A draft California Public Utilities Commission resolution would align the state's LifeLine with federal Lifeline rules. The resolution will be considered during the commission's Aug. 14 meeting. If adopted, the California LifeLine's annual renewal process would mirror that of the FCC. The state program would risk losing "approximately $1.4 million annually" in federal funding if the change isn't implemented, the draft said. Updating the process would ensure that "all subscribers, regardless of database match status, are held to a consistent standard."
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Monday called for communications providers and power companies to work together in the aftermath of hurricanes and other natural disasters. Other speakers at the FCC's hurricane resiliency roundtable noted that communications between the domains have improved, highlighted by the work of the Cross-Sector Resiliency Forum (see 2504250050), which launched after Hurricane Michael in 2018.
Commercial aviation priorities frequently push aside commercial space launch operation issues at the FAA, said George Nield, chairman of the Global Spaceport Alliance (GSA). Tackling some challenges that the space launch industry faces starts with elevating the Office of Commercial Space Transportation so that instead of being under FAA, it has equal standing as the FAA, Nield said in an interview with Communications Daily. The following transcript was edited for length and clarity.
California broadband advocates and industry clashed over how the state should treat fixed wireless and other non-fiber technologies in its BEAD plan, as the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) races to finalize a revised proposal by Sept. 4. In reply comments posted Wednesday (docket 23-02-016), commenters disagreed on whether fixed wireless can serve as a viable long-term solution for bridging the digital divide.
Industry groups urged the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to move quickly in its rulemaking to modernize its carrier of last resort (COLR) requirements as the agency considers changing the state's 30-year-old rules (see 2410310044). Some suggested that the requirement be removed entirely in areas that are well-served, while advocacy organizations encouraged the commission to maintain the rules and instead update the framework.
House action on the Senate-cleared version of the HR-1 budget reconciliation package, previously known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, appeared in doubt Wednesday afternoon amid resistance from several GOP lawmakers. Critics of Senate Commerce Committee Republicans’ HR-1 spectrum language held out hope amid the ruckus that lawmakers would make additional bands ineligible for potential reallocation. The Senate narrowly passed its HR-1 language Tuesday (see 2507010070).
Damage to Charter Communications' network June 15 in Van Nuys, California, was domestic terrorism, the company said Tuesday. That determination was based on the nature of the fiber cuts, the extent of the damage and the makeup of the customers affected, it said, noting that the 13 damaged cables resulted in lost connectivity to emergency services, financial institutions, court buildings, health care facilities, a U.S. military base and cell towers. More than 50,000 residential customers and 500 business customers were affected for up to 30 hours, according to Charter. "This is a pervasive and persistent threat to American families and businesses across the country that cannot be tolerated, and such life-threatening events should be declared acts of domestic terrorism and prosecuted accordingly," CEO Chris Winfrey said. The company said it's offering a $25,000 reward for information. NCTA, CTIA, USTelecom and NTCA have urged Congress to consider criminalizing communications network vandalism and theft federally (see 2411190058).
Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill Friday extending the California Public Utilities Commission's Deaf and Disabled Telecom Program to Dec. 31, 2034. SB-142 also extends the commission's surcharge for the Deaf and Disabled Telecom Program Administrative Committee Fund and authorizes it to make recommendations regarding program funding. The law took effect immediately.