Chair opens House hearing to review Telecommunications Act of 1996 and ask whether laws fit the broadband era The chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce opened a hearing to assess the Telecommunications Act of 1996, highlighting its role in deregulation, universal service, and Section 230’s foundational role for the internet, and asking witnesses whether federal communications law should be modernized for broadband and digital platforms.

Congress is diving into a 30-year review of the landmark Telecommunications Act of 1996 to see if our communication laws can keep up with today's digital world.

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#US #BroadbandAccess #CitizenPortal #TelecommunicationsReform #DigitalPolicy

Committee backs bill to cap commercial robocalls to Tennessee residences at 10,000 per month Chairman Baum's HB 2408 would limit commercial robocalls to residential households to 10,000 calls per month, require reporting to the Tennessee Public Utility Commission and allow enforcement by the attorney general; the committee attached an amendment and advanced the bill to Government Operations.

Tennessee is taking a stand against the "annoyance economy" by capping robocalls to homes at just 10,000 a month!

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#TN #CitizenPortal #ConsumerProtection #TennesseeRobocalls #RegulatoryAccountability #TelecommunicationsReform

Council advances Visionary Communications franchise on second reading after debate over consultant and fee The Evanston City Council approved Ordinance 2602 on second reading to grant a franchise to Visionary Communications LLC, amid council concern about a consultant the city paid and negotiation of a 3% franchise fee; members asked for a work session before final approval.

Evanston City Council's approval of a new telecom franchise sparks heated debate over fees and consulting ethics!

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#WY #CitizenPortal #CivicEngagement #TelecommunicationsReform #GovernmentTransparency

Broadband installers seek narrow 811 exemption for hand‑buried drops; utilities and 811 board warn of safety risks Proponents said LB1093 (with amendment) would let technicians hand‑bury temporary drop lines and speed customer hookups; the Nebraska 1‑Call board, natural‑gas and electric utilities, and city utilities strongly opposed the measure, citing risks of hitting buried lines and long‑term damage.

Nebraska's latest proposed bill could revolutionize broadband installations by allowing same-day connections, but safety concerns from utilities raise serious red flags.

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#NE #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #TelecommunicationsReform #InfrastructureSafety

Missouri Utilities Committee hears combined anti‑spoofing and no‑call bills; carriers urge federal coordination Sponsors combined four bills (HB2147, HB2472, HB2546, HB2658) to extend no‑call protections to business lines, require STIR/SHAKEN authentication for VoIP, create civil remedies and graduated fines, and in one bill add criminal penalties; carriers warned against conflicting state rules with federal law.

Missouri's House Committee is taking a bold stand against robocalls and call-ID spoofing with new bills that could change the game for consumer protections!

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#MO #FraudPrevention #CitizenPortal #ConsumerProtection #MissouriUtilities #TelecommunicationsReform

Panel weighs bill to require consumer notice, 9‑1‑1 board alerts as phone service moves from copper to fiber The House Energy and Digital Infrastructure committee reviewed draft bill 26‑0726 to require carriers to notify state officials and consumers when transitioning copper voice lines to fiber, with the Enhanced 9‑1‑1 Board urging direct notice and urging clearer outage reporting and battery‑backup guidance.

As Vermont transitions from copper to fiber phone services, crucial consumer protections and clearer outage reporting are on the table—will your voice be heard?

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#VT #CitizenPortal #EmergencyServices #TelecommunicationsReform #VermontConsumers #ConsumerProtection

Department of Public Service details connectivity gains, urges changes to planning cadence and advisory body The Department of Public Service told the Health, Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee that Vermont’s fiber reach rose to 72.6% of premises in 2025, the division completed a 2024–25 mobile drive test and recommends moving the 10‑year telecom plan update cadence from three to five years and sunsetting the Telecommunications Advisory Council.

Vermont's fiber connectivity surged to 72.6% in 2025, but the state is pushing for crucial policy changes to keep up with rapid tech advancements!

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#VT #BroadbandAccess #TelecommunicationsReform #DigitalInfrastructure #CitizenPortal #VermontPublicService

Lake Elmo hears case for municipal broadband franchising; experts urge due diligence An outside attorney described how Woodbury negotiated the stateirst broadband franchise and urged Lake Elmo to consider franchising to secure build‑out, customer service standards and franchise fees; commissioners asked for comparative data and legal risk analysis before directing staff to proceed.

Lake Elmo is on the brink of revolutionizing its broadband services, but city leaders want to ensure they have all the data before taking the plunge into franchising.

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#LakeElmoCityWashingtonCounty #MN #CommunityInnovation #DigitalAccess #TelecommunicationsReform #CitizenPortal

Corrections & Institutions committee maps priorities: telecoms, commissary, supervision fees and DOC report extension At a late-afternoon Corrections & Institutions committee meeting, members reviewed unfinished bills from the prior session and four new bills, agreed to reconvene subcommittees on commissary and telecommunications, and granted DOC an extension to Feb. 1 to complete a report on converting Saint Johnsbury Correctional Facility into a treatment facility.

The Corrections & Institutions committee is gearing up to tackle pressing issues from last session while exploring new legislation that could transform Vermont's correctional landscape.

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#VT #RestorativeJustice #TelecommunicationsReform #VermontCorrections #CitizenPortal

County Board Approves Verizon Cell Tower Lease and Opioid Settlement Resolutions The board authorized Verizon lease amendment and participation in opioid settlements tonight.

Prince George County's Board just passed crucial resolutions on telecommunications and opioid settlements that could reshape community resources!

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#PrinceGeorgeCounty #VA #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #HealthCareAccess #PrinceGeorgeCountyCommunity #TelecommunicationsReform

Commission Approves Ownership Change and Extension for Bittenger Solar Project in Garrett County Commission grants Bittenger LLC a 16-month extension for community solar project completion.

Major shifts in Maryland's energy landscape are underway as the Public Service Commission approves a key ownership change and grants a vital extension for a community solar project!

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#MD #CitizenPortal #MarylandCommunity #TelecommunicationsReform #CommunitySolar #RenewableEnergy

Maryland Commission Approves AT&T and Verizon Service Discontinuations and 911 Upgrades Commission reviews service changes from AT&T and Verizon, noting efficiency and modernization efforts.

Maryland's Public Service Commission just made waves by approving significant changes for AT&T and other utilities, signaling a major shift in the state's telecommunications landscape!

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#MD #CitizenPortal #ElectricVehicles #TelecommunicationsReform #MarylandPublicService

Hickory City Council Hears Public Concerns Over Internet Service Competition Kimberly Turk urges Hickory Council to promote competition against Spectrum for better services.

Hickory residents are demanding better internet options, with one passionate citizen calling for competition against the dominant provider Spectrum at a recent city council meeting.

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#HickoryCityCatawbaCounty #NC #PublicInput #CitizenPortal #TelecommunicationsReform #HickoryCity

Puerto Rico community voices concerns over telecommunications tower permitting process Residents express frustration over lengthy telecommunications permit processes impacting community services.

Puerto Rico residents are raising their voices against the confusing and lengthy permitting process for telecommunications antennas, demanding clarity and accountability to protect their neighborhoods.

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#US #CitizenPortal #TelecommunicationsReform #CommunitySafety

Congress explores solutions to illegal robocalls impacting healthcare services Committee discusses enforcement strategies to combat robocalls disrupting emergency physician communications.

Congress is taking urgent action to tackle the illegal robocall crisis that's disrupting healthcare communications and endangering lives.

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#US #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #TexasHealthcare #TelecommunicationsReform #ConsumerProtection

County discusses $200,000 budget for school nurses amid COVID funding decrease County officials outline challenges in funding nurses for schools due to COVID budget reductions.

Caswell County officials are grappling with a $200,000 decrease in funding for school nurses, raising serious concerns about student health and safety in the wake of COVID-19.

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#CaswellCounty #NC #CitizenPortal #CaswellCountySchools #TelecommunicationsReform #HealthcareFunding

EC Fiber faces lawsuits as federal funding uncertainties stall network upgrades GWI sues EC Fiber amid federal delays and cancelled digital equity grant impacting operations.

EC Fiber's legal woes and federal funding uncertainties are causing turmoil in Vermont's broadband landscape—what does this mean for your internet access?

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#RutlandCounty #VT #CitizenPortal #DigitalEquity #RutlandCountyBroadband #TelecommunicationsReform #ConsumerProtection

Cox Communications proposes Nevada bill to update broadband licensing requirements Cox Communications advocates for legislation to close loopholes in Nevada's broadband statutes.

Cox Communications is pushing for a groundbreaking bill in Nevada that could reshape the broadband landscape by ensuring all providers play by the same rules.

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#NV #CitizenPortal #DigitalAccess #TelecommunicationsReform #MarketEquity #NevadaBroadband

Montana Legislature approves new tax exemptions for fiber optic and wireless infrastructure Lawmakers enable tax breaks for owners investing in fiber optic and wireless infrastructure.

Montana's Senate Bill 534 is set to transform the landscape of property taxation for high-speed internet infrastructure, but will it bridge the digital divide or widen it?

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#MT #EconomicDevelopment #CitizenPortal #DigitalAccess #TelecommunicationsReform #MontanaInfrastructure

New law protects confidentiality for domestic violence victims opting out of phone contracts Telecommunications providers must ensure confidentiality for domestic violence victims' contract opt-out requests.

Pennsylvania is on the brink of a groundbreaking law that could empower domestic violence victims to exit phone contracts with confidentiality and ease.

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#PA #PrivacyProtection #TelecommunicationsReform #VictimEmpowerment #PennsylvaniaDomesticViolence #CitizenPortal

Public Service Commission sets deadlines for next-gen 911 service agreements Next-generation 911 contractor must report capabilities annually starting November 2024.

Nebraska's new bill could revolutionize emergency services by mandating next-gen 911 improvements and demanding accountability from service providers.

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#NE #EmergencyServices #PublicSafety #TelecommunicationsReform #CitizenPortal

Florida House introduces HB 925 to secure communications grid from foreign threats HB 925 aims to eliminate foreign tech from Florida's communications grid for security.

Florida's new House Bill 925 could reshape the state's communications landscape by targeting foreign tech, igniting fierce debates over security versus competition.

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#FL #CybersecuritySafety #NationalSecurity #TelecommunicationsReform #CitizenPortal