California net neutrality bill reaches governor’s desk

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Jerry Brown will decide whether California should have the nation’s strongest protections for net neutrality rules after the measure cleared the final legislative hurdle on Friday.

The state Senate approved the bill over opposition from internet service providers, opening another front in the war between California and President Donald Trump.

The measure was celebrated by net neutrality advocates who hope it will help drive a national policy prohibiting internet companies from favoring certain websites over others.

“The premise fundamentally of net neutrality is that we as individuals get to decide where we go on the internet as opposed to be told by internet service providers,” said state Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat who wrote the bill.

The Federal Communications Commission has repealed Obamaera net neutrality protections, leading many activists to fear that internet providers could create fast lanes and slow lanes that favor their own sites and apps or make it harder for consumers to see content from their competitors.

Internet companies say they’re committed to upholding net neutrality principles but it’s unrealistic for them to comply with different regulations around the country.

The measure “undercuts California’s long history as a vibrant catalyst for innovation and technology,” Jonathan Spalter, president and CEO of the industry group USTelecom, said in a statement.

Opponents of net neutrality argue that the regulations discourage investment in infrastructure, such as 5G technology. They also argue that overregulation will lead to strained network capacity.

Brown has not said whether he will sign the bill, which probably would draw a lawsuit from the industry.