September 16, 2018 (fightforthefuture.org)
It’s been two weeks since the California legislature passed the strongest net neutrality bill in the country.1
But Governor Jerry Brown still hasn’t signed it into law. And now FCC Chairman Ajit Pai just went on a rant against the bill, calling it the “most egregious” response to his repeal of net neutrality.2
Gov. Brown has only 15 days left to sign the bill, and big telecom companies are funding a Hail Mary effort to get him to veto the bill.3
California’s net neutrality bill, SB 822, has implications for the entire country. It would prevent blocking, throttling, or slowing sites. It would outlaw ‘zero-rating’—when ISPs provide unlimited access to apps they own to stifle competition. And if it’s signed, it could spread across the nation, providing a gold standard for other states to follow.
It took an incredible grassroots effort to get SB 822 to Brown’s desk. At least twice, the telecom industry almost killed it. Finally, the will of Californians won out and the bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. But Brown only has until the end of the month to sign it.4
We can’t take Brown’s signature for granted. He’s yet to even take a public stand on net neutrality.5 ISPs are lying about what the bill would do to drive employees to sign a petition urging a veto.6 Brown has already signed a slew of other bills from the end of the legislative session and hasn’t explained why he’s dragging his feet on net neutrality.
Public support and strategic organizing have gotten us this far—and we’re certainly not giving up now. We’re bombarding Brown’s office with phone calls and messages to tell him to sign SB 822 now. With your help, we can turn up the heat even more.
For net neutrality,
Evan at Fight for the Future
Footnotes:
1. NPR: https://www.npr.org/2018/09/01/643909884/california-lawmakers-pass-net-neutrality-bill
2. Gizmodo: https://gizmodo.com/scott-wiener-paints-ajit-pai-as-telecom-shill-as-califo-1829071978
3. Gizmodo: https://gizmodo.com/major-telecom-urges-employees-to-protest-net-neutrality-1828896674
4. Common Dreams: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/09/07/whats-taking-so-long-internet-defenders-demand-gov-jerry-brown-sign-california-net
5. Mercury News: https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/09/06/net-neutrality-in-california-lawmakers-call-on-gov-brown-to-sign-bill/
6. Gizmodo: https://gizmodo.com/major-telecom-urges-employees-to-protest-net-neutrality-1828896674
