Arkansas senators voted 34-0 Tuesday to lift state restrictions on municipal broadband. It goes next to the House. The GOP-sponsored SB-150 got its first House hearing Wednesday in the Insurance and Commerce Committee. “After reasonable notice to the public, a government entity may, on its own or in partnership with a private entity, apply for funding under a program for grants or loans to be used for the construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities, land, or buildings used to deploy broadband service in unserved areas … and if the funding is awarded, then provide, directly or indirectly, voice, data, broadband, video, or wireless telecommunications services to the public in the unserved areas,” reads the bill. It would declare lack of rural broadband a state emergency. Cities may deploy broadband under current law if they have a municipal electric utility, but SB-150 would allow any local government to move forward, blogged the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Journalist panelists at NARUC in Washington Tuesday also discussed the bill and other muni broadband legislation elsewhere.

Donald Trump's administration released its American Broadband Initiative milestones report Wednesday, outlining a strategy for spurring wireless and wireline broadband using federal lands. It includes opening Department of Interior (DOI) towers for communications use and streamlining other buildout. The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on ways to ensure U.S. infrastructure keeps up with economic growth.

Donald Trump's administration released its American Broadband Initiative milestones report Wednesday, outlining a strategy for spurring wireless and wireline broadband using federal lands. It includes opening Department of Interior (DOI) towers for communications use and streamlining other buildout. The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on ways to ensure U.S. infrastructure keeps up with economic growth.

The Enforcement Bureau proposed a $25,000 fine against Lexington Coal Co. for allegedly taking control of 23 private land mobile radio stations from another company without FCC authorization. “Our action today advances the Commission’s longstanding goals of ensuring that the transfer, assignment, and operation of wireless authorizations are limited to instances ... in the public interest, convenience and necessity,” the bureau said. In October 2017, Lexington took over properties from Alpha in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. In February 2018, the two companies “brought this matter to the attention” of the Wireless Bureau and sought approval, the bureau said. Lexington didn't comment.

The two senators from New Mexico -- Democrats Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall -- on Feb. 7 introduced the Trade Facilitation and Security Enhancement Act, S.B. 414, which would require the 10 busiest land ports of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border to be open to commercial vehicles 16 hours a day Monday through Friday and at least eight hours per weekend. The extended hours would need to be put in place no later than six months after the bill's passage. They said spending the money to modernize ports and extend hours would "increase international trade and bolster economic development in border communities."

Wiley Rein hires Scott Wilkens, ex-Jenner & Block, as partner-telecom, media and technology ... Apple adds retail to Senior Vice President-People Deirdre O’Brien’s responsibilities as Senior Vice President-Retail Angela Ahrendts departs in April for personal and professional pursuits ... E.W. Scripps announces Kara McNeely, from KABC Los Angeles, as vice president-general manager, Arizona’s KGUN Tucson and KWBA Sierra Vista, effective March 4.

Amazon landed on “best of” lists Monday after it revealed its sense of humor in an Alexa Super Bowl ad. The tech giant spoofed its voice control application "fails" in a commercial called “Not everything makes the cut.” After it conveyed the true message that there are now Alexa-controlled microwave ovens, Amazon winked, showing voice control gone wrong: an actor requests a podcast from an electric toothbrush only to have the sound muffled inside the mouth; actor Harrison Ford is outplayed in a scene where his dog orders a palette of dog food by barking, repeatedly, at Alexa; a voice-activated hot tub scene recreates an event resembling the over-the-top audio and water experience of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas; and astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly are shown powering the Earth’s electrical grids off and on from the International Space Station using voice commands, an episode referred to as “the incident.”

Amazon landed on “best of” lists Monday after it revealed its sense of humor in an Alexa Super Bowl ad. The tech giant spoofed its voice control application "fails" in a commercial called “Not everything makes the cut.” After it conveyed the true message that there are now Alexa-controlled microwave ovens, Amazon winked, showing voice control gone wrong: an actor requests a podcast from an electric toothbrush only to have the sound muffled inside the mouth; actor Harrison Ford is outplayed in a scene where his dog orders a palette of dog food by barking, repeatedly, at Alexa; a voice-activated hot tub scene recreates an event resembling the over-the-top audio and water experience of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas; and astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly are shown powering the Earth’s electrical grids off and on from the International Space Station using voice commands, an episode referred to as “the incident.”

ARRL asked to withdraw a December FCC petition for a rulemaking on changes to section 97.15 of its rules. ARRL had sought a change to permit licensed amateur radio operators to build and maintain at their residences an outdoor antenna “for the purpose of conducting Amateur Radio communications, notwithstanding the provisions of any private land use regulations that may be imposed on the residential real property.” Now, the group seeks to “withdraw without prejudice.”

Amazon landed on “best of” lists Monday after it revealed its sense of humor in an Alexa Super Bowl ad. The tech giant spoofed its voice control application "fails" in a commercial called “Not everything makes the cut.” After it conveyed the true message that there are now Alexa-controlled microwave ovens, Amazon winked, showing voice control gone wrong: an actor requests a podcast from an electric toothbrush only to have the sound muffled inside the mouth; actor Harrison Ford is outplayed in a scene where his dog orders a palette of dog food by barking, repeatedly, at Alexa; a voice-activated hot tub scene recreates an event resembling the over-the-top audio and water experience of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas; and astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly are shown powering the Earth’s electrical grids off and on from the International Space Station using voice commands, an episode referred to as “the incident.”