CA Net Neutrality Bill Gains Momentum

After the Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission (FCC) eliminated essential safeguards that ensure fair Internet access to all users, state legislators across the country are taking action to protect their constituents. Lawmakers in New York, Texas, Washington, Massachusetts, and Nebraska have all indicated that they will introduce state-level legislation. In California, SB 460 has already cleared its committee.

The California Internet Consumer Protections and Net Neutrality Act of 2018, or SB 460, would restore the safeguards eliminated by Trump's FCC – no blocking, no throttling, and no favoritism. These rules will apply to wireline and wireless broadband providers. The bill also requires accurate broadband speed reporting by broadband providers and establishes a mechanism by which consumers can test their broadband speeds.

"CWA has long supported clear rules to protect a free and open Internet," said CWA District 9 in a statement supporting SB 460. "The decision by the Republican-majority at the FCC to eliminate the rules that prohibit Internet Service Providers from blocking content, slowing down some Internet traffic, or giving favorable treatment to some websites and applications over others threatens essential safeguards that ensure fair Internet access to all users."

Read the full statement here.