Pelosi steps into state’s net neutrality debate
Ahead of a committee hearing Wednesday morning on two state net neutrality bills, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to the committee chair urging him to pass “comprehensive protections” in the state — a move that elevates California’s net neutrality fight to the national level.
In the letter sent Monday to Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles, chair of the Communications and Conveyance Committee, Pelosi said House Democrats share his “desire to correct the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC’s) misguided decision” to officially eliminate net neutrality protections this month.
“We will not settle for the weak bills pushed by Republicans that eliminate crucial consumer protections and are net neutrality in name only,” she wrote. “Californians deserve the strong protections they had on the Internet until last week.”
The letter came as Sens. Scott Wiener and Kevin de León announced amendments to their respective net neutrality bills — SB822 and SB460 — in an attempt to make them work in tandem. By amending the bills, the senators sought to prevent jockeying over which version of net neutrality might pass and instead advancing a comprehensive
package that would force internet companies to not play favorites when it comes to websites and apps.
But as of Tuesday afternoon, the chairman had yet to accept the amendments. Santiago could not immediately be reached for comment.
Pelosi’s letter championed Wiener’s bill, saying its provisions are “critical to prohibit unfair discrimination online against all Californians.” While she urged Santiago to maintain all of the “comprehensive protections” in Wiener’s bill, she did not mention any specific opinions of de León’s bill.
Spokespeople for both de León and Pelosi could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
On Tuesday, Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, also sent a letter to the committee chairman supporting Wiener’s bill. She said she was “concerned” by reports that the Assembly Committee is considering altering the bill to reallow a controversial internet service provider practice called “zero rating.”
Opponents of the California bills have cited the possibility for conflicting regulations for internet service providers in multiple states, and they have urged Congress to pass federal legislation instead. Telecom and cable firms have lobbied against net neutrality, saying the rules would discourage investment in their networks.
Wiener said it was “rare” for Pelosi to weigh in on state legislation so publicly. He said Pelosi’s staff expressed that it would be “problematic” at a federal level if California failed to pass a net neutrality bill.
“California is viewed nationally as a leading progressive state, and if progressive California can’t pass net neutrality or a strong bill, that sends a loud message,” Wiener said. “If a legislature with a supermajority of Democrats with a history of passing progressive legislation doesn’t pass a robust net neutrality bill, what does that mean for the rest of the country?”