States are directing broadband funds to COVID-19 response, but many others lack that ability, said state commissioners, legislators and broadband officials in recent interviews. The pandemic increased states’ urgency to close broadband gaps and could lead to policy changes, they said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) outlined an effort to close the digital divide (see 2004160058) in response to COVID-19. The California Public Utilities Commission will make $25 million from the California Teleconnect Fund available for schools for hot spots and internet service for student households and a previously announced $5 million from the California Advanced Services Fund for devices (see 2004200041), Newsom announced Monday. Amazon, Apple, Verizon, T-Mobile and others committed to provide broadband service and devices for students, he said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) outlined an effort to close the digital divide (see 2004160058) in response to COVID-19. The California Public Utilities Commission will make $25 million from the California Teleconnect Fund available for schools for hot spots and internet service for student households and a previously announced $5 million from the California Advanced Services Fund for devices (see 2004200041), Newsom announced Monday. Amazon, Apple, Verizon, T-Mobile and others committed to provide broadband service and devices for students, he said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) outlined an effort to close the digital divide (see 2004160058) in response to COVID-19. The California Public Utilities Commission will make $25 million from the California Teleconnect Fund available for schools for hot spots and internet service for student households and a previously announced $5 million from the California Advanced Services Fund for devices (see 2004200041), Newsom announced Monday. Amazon, Apple, Verizon, T-Mobile and others committed to provide broadband service and devices for students, he said.

Pay for Wi-Fi hot spots and other devices for students through the California Advanced Services Fund, commented the state Education Department Thursday to the California Public Utilities Commission. U.S. E-rate doesn’t cover that, Ed said. The department would apply and disseminate devices to students through county education offices, it said in docket R.12-10-012. Others supported rolling application deadlines. CalTel and other small rural LECs urged the same for infrastructure. “This will allow providers to assess areas of need in light of evolving information and react to changing broadband usage patterns brought on by the statewide ‘shelter-in-place’ order,” the small telcos said. The California Cable & Telecommunications Association isn’t against rolling deadlines if limited to addressing COVID-19 and opposes “wholesale changes to the CASF program made under pressure during a [COVID-19] crisis.” Streamline procedures for awarding and administering CASF infrastructure grants, commented AT&T. GeoLinks sought increased upfront costs to expedite projects. Fund public housing deployment, said San Francisco. The Electronic Frontier Foundation urged sought network performance and outage data to analyze “why ISPs have seemingly yielded wildly different results across the state when it comes to delivering broadband access during the pandemic.” Fiber seems to best absorb increased demand, EFF said. Consumer and rural advocates seek changes (see 2004090056).

Pay for Wi-Fi hot spots and other devices for students through the California Advanced Services Fund, commented the state Education Department Thursday to the California Public Utilities Commission. U.S. E-rate doesn’t cover that, Ed said. The department would apply and disseminate devices to students through county education offices, it said in docket R.12-10-012. Others supported rolling application deadlines. CalTel and other small rural LECs urged the same for infrastructure. “This will allow providers to assess areas of need in light of evolving information and react to changing broadband usage patterns brought on by the statewide ‘shelter-in-place’ order,” the small telcos said. The California Cable & Telecommunications Association isn’t against rolling deadlines if limited to addressing COVID-19 and opposes “wholesale changes to the CASF program made under pressure during a [COVID-19] crisis.” Streamline procedures for awarding and administering CASF infrastructure grants, commented AT&T. GeoLinks sought increased upfront costs to expedite projects. Fund public housing deployment, said San Francisco. The Electronic Frontier Foundation urged sought network performance and outage data to analyze “why ISPs have seemingly yielded wildly different results across the state when it comes to delivering broadband access during the pandemic.” Fiber seems to best absorb increased demand, EFF said. Consumer and rural advocates seek changes (see 2004090056).

House Democratic leaders plan to move forward on infrastructure funding legislation as part of the next package addressing COVID-19 when the chamber reconvenes. President Donald Trump wants the next bill to include $2 trillion for infrastructure (see 2003310070). Democrats’ calls for broadband funding have grown since Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (HR-748) last week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is “pleased” Trump “returned to his interest” in infrastructure funding because it’s “essential" amid "the historic nature of the health and economic emergency,” she said during a Wednesday conference call with reporters. House Democrats' Wednesday proposal largely mirrors the $760 billion plan leaders released in January. House Democrats’ Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act counterproposal to an earlier Senate version of what became HR-748 and included a $2 billion allocation to the FCC for schools and libraries to give students, teachers and library patrons Wi-Fi hot spots, connected devices and mobile broadband service for those devices during the pandemic. The plan includes $86 billion for broadband projects, House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey told reporters. House Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., noted reluctance by GOP leaders. Those leaders will likely “move on this issue” if the administration follows through, DeFazio said. “Republicans stand ready to work across the aisle to support the individuals and institutions that will need more help in the fight against the virus,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California in a statement. Supporters of broadband-focused funding legislation told us they view Trump’s renewed support for infrastructure legislation and Democrats’ ongoing push as signs there’s the most legislative momentum since the 2016 election. “Hopefully, this is the wake-up call” to bring all parties to negotiations, said Public Knowledge Senior Policy Counsel Jenna Leventoff. “We need to be prepared if there’s another pandemic,” but “people are always going to need the internet.”

House Democratic leaders said Wednesday they plan to move forward on infrastructure funding legislation as part of the next package addressing COVID-19 when the chamber reconvenes, citing President Donald Trump’s recent interest. Trump said Tuesday he wants the next bill to include $2 trillion in infrastructure spending (see 2003310070). Democrats’ calls for broadband funding to be a part of the next bill have grown since Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (HR-748) last week (see 2003260063).

COVID-19 could reprioritize two California telecom funds. The California Public Utilities Commission sought comment Thursday on how it can respond to the pandemic using the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). In prehearing statements due that day on a possible overhaul to California LifeLine that could shift support to broadband, some urged focus on increasing participation of especially vulnerable low-income residents.

Responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, Arizona telecom companies “are expanding broadband and increasing bandwidth and connectivity near schools and in libraries,” and making public Wi-Fi hot spots free, per the FCC’s Keep America Connected pledge, the Arizona Corporation Commission said Monday. The ACC held a special open meeting Monday on utilities’ continuity plans. Many utilities said they “implemented disconnect moratoriums and there will be no disconnection for electric, gas, telephone, wastewater and water due to unpaid bills during the COVID-19 epidemic,” the agency said. The Texas Public Utility Commission held an emergency meeting Monday to order staff teleworking and social distancing measures, including suspending agency rules requiring physical interactions and filing hard copies. "Diligent utilization of communications technology can keep us connected as we do what is best for Texans," said Chairman DeAnn Walker. The California Public Utilities Commission asked communications companies Tuesday to halt customer disconnections for nonpayment. The Wyoming Public Service Commission ordered no utility disconnections and adjusted several agency procedures, including allowing all filings to be submitted electronically and suspending some reporting requirements. The PSC won’t allow visitors and will postpone or teleconference meetings. The Nevada Public Utilities Commission closed Las Vegas and Carson City offices per an order by Gov. Steve Sisolak (D). The Michigan Public Service Commission canceled its Wednesday meeting. The Maryland PSC closed its Baltimore office, canceled meetings this and next Wednesday and waived paper filing requirements. Many state commissions are acting to stop disconnections while revising their own procedures (see 2003160035).