The California Public Utilities Commission refused to rehear a decision fining T-Mobile $3.59 million for allegedly misleading the agency about its CDMA transition during the state's Sprint merger review. The carrier in December sought rehearing of the CPUC’s Nov. 7 decision (see 2212080019 and 2211030064). Rehearing isn’t warranted, said a CPUC order issued Friday (docket A.18-07-012). “T-Mobile did not make it clear and unambiguous that it intended to shut down the CDMA network before the expiration of the three-year migration period,” the commission said. “It was reasonable for us to interpret T-Mobile as committing to operate the CDMA network for three years.” The commission also stood by its penalties calculation, saying it was correct that Verizon’s failure was a continuing violation that caused harm to the economy and regulatory process. "We continue to strongly disagree with the CPUC’s flawed conclusions," a T-Mobile spokesperson said Monday. "We stand by our prior statements to the CPUC and are considering options for next steps."

Georgia tagged nearly $15 million for broadband expansion in a second round of Capital Projects Fund grants, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) said Monday. The preliminary grant awards are meant to connect more than 3,500 locations, the governor’s office said. Windstream received more than $8.5 million combined for projects in three counties. Georgia city Colquitt got the rest, winning nearly $6.3 million for a project in Miller County.

The Louisiana State Legislature passed a bill to update Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO) grant rules. The House voted 97-0 Thursday to agree with Senate amendments to HB-653 (see 2305250048). The bill will go to Gov. John Bel Edwards (D).

Wireless and internet industry groups sounded alarms in Ohio as senators weigh what to include in the state budget. One HB-33 amendment under consideration (Page 143) by the Senate would remove wireless broadband from definitions of tier one and tier two broadband services for the purposes of getting grants. The Wireless ISP Association “is disappointed to see the Senate considering taking a step backward on its broadband expansion grant program by removing wireless broadband providers from grant eligibility,” WISPA State Advocacy Manager Steven Schwerbel told us Friday. “This amendment would mean that the state will not be able to fully consider all factors that influence broadband needs in Ohio. Federal programs like [NTIA’s broadband equity, access and deployment program] are already putting their thumbs on the scale when it comes to funding broadband expansion. Cutting wireless out of the state grant program means that BroadbandOhio will lose the flexibility to fill in the gaps where those federal dollars can’t or won’t flow, and make sure that every Ohioan has access to reliable, high-speed broadband.” Meanwhile, the Computer and Communications Industry Association sent a letter to senators protesting a section in HB-33 that would require social websites to verify users’ ages and require parental approval. “While we share the concerns of the Ohio State Senate regarding the safety of young people online, we encourage Senators to resist advancing Sec. 1349.09 of HB 33 which is not adequately tailored to this objective,” wrote CCIA State Policy Manager Jordan Rodell.

The New York Privacy Act passed the state Senate without the private right of action from the original S-365 (see 2304250063). The Senate voted 46-15 Thursday to send the measure to the Assembly. Also, the Senate voted 62-0 to send the Assembly S-6318, which would require the New York Public Service Commission to map mobile coverage and reliability across the state and then make a plan to ensure reliable coverage statewide (see 2305160033). The latest version of S-365 sets parameters for state attorney general action, which is how most other state privacy laws are enforced. Consumer Reports withdrew its support and is now officially “neutral” on the bill, policy analyst Matthew Schwartz emailed Friday. “Among numerous other changes, the amendments removed automated decisionmaking rights, weakened the definition of biometric information, carved out nonprofits, weakened risk assessments, and inserted a loyalty program carveout.” Microsoft supports the New York Privacy Act, a spokesperson said. "We will continue working with sponsors in both houses and stakeholders to pass comprehensive privacy legislation." CTIA opposed the mobile mapping bill in a letter Wednesday. SB-6318 “would unnecessarily duplicate efforts by the [FCC] to comprehensively map and regularly update mobile wireless coverage throughout the country,” said the wireless industry association: New York should instead seek to reduce local government barriers to wireless deployment. “If the bill contemplates directing the PSC to mandate wireless deployment in specific areas or regulate wireless rates, such measures would be preempted by federal law,” CTIA warned.

Don’t include communications in a state review of utilities’ low-income universal service programs, Verizon urged the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Wednesday. "Low-income discount programs for voice and internet are governed by federal law,” Verizon commented in docket M-2023-3038944. FCC rules cover eligibility, enrollment, recertification and other issues raised by the Pennsylvania PUC in a March 27 letter, said the carrier: While the state commission "has a role with certain aspects of these federal programs, it must work within and cannot alter or depart from the federal requirements."

A Louisiana bill requiring social media companies to verify the age of users passed the legislature Wednesday. The Senate voted 25-0 to concur with House changes to SB-162, which would also require platforms to collect parental approval for minors to get accounts (see [Ref:2306060026). The bill will go to Gov. John Bel Edwards (D). The governor didn’t comment Thursday.

West Virginia preliminarily approved about $18 million for broadband infrastructure projects, Gov. Jim Justice (R) said Wednesday. The state awarded money through its Line Extension Advancement and Development (LEAD), Major Broadband Project Strategies (MBPS) and Wireless Internet Networks (WIN) programs. The state investment is matched by about $19,000 from other sources, the governor’s office said. The state expects the awarded projects to connect about 8,250 locations covering more than 21,000 homes and businesses. Frontier Communications received nearly $13.4 million in MBPS awards for two projects. Prodigi got about $4.4 million to extend fiber through the LEAD program. U.S. Cellular won about $930,000 under the WIN program, which aims to extend wireless over state parks and forests.

An Oregon bill to regulate data brokers passed the House in a 49-9 vote Wednesday. The Business and Labor Committee approved HB-2052 in February (see 2302060026). The Ways and Means Committee approved it last week. The bill will next go to the Senate.

New York state senators unanimously passed a fiber pole-attachments bill Tuesday. The Senate voted 62-0 for S-5126 by Senate Telecom Committee Chairman Kevin Parker and three other Democrats. The Assembly received the bill and referred it to the Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee. The bill would say a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) from the New York Public Service Commission isn’t required to attach fiber lines to utility poles. “Certain utility pole owners are requiring new broadband competitors to obtain a CPCN as a condition to attaching fiber lines to its utility poles,” said the bill’s justification statement. “This is an anti-competitive move aimed at slowing entry of new broadband providers into the market.”