The changes made Monday to senate bill 460 were posted earlier today. Instead of requiring all state and local agencies to buy broadband services from companies that abide by network neutrality rules, it now only applies to contracts of $100,000 or more, and contains generous exceptions to that restriction. The amendments were approved by the assembly’s appropriations committee, which often acts as a proxy for assembly leadership – democratic and republican – but were suggested last week in a staff analysis prepared for the assembly privacy and consumer protection committee.
It’s a win for cable and telco lobbyists.
SB 460 is one of two net neutrality bills pending in the California legislature. The main bill, SB 822, which would reinstate net neutrality rules across the board, is awaiting a vote on the assembly floor.