California Senator introduces most restrictive Net Neutrality legislation yet

Recently this week, State Senator Scott Wiener (a Democrat from San Francisco) has proposed a legislation (designated as Bill 822) that would basically implement Obama era net neutrality regulations (since repealed by the Federal Communications Commission under President Donald Trump’s administration) into California state law. 

In Senator Wiener’s proposal, wireless service providers are barred from delivering sponsored content or any form of zero rating practices. This would include the slowing down or outright blocking of access to specific web pages or web based services (like streaming, for instance). The ban also applies to any arrangement that would allow Internet companies to offer priority access (at a price) to other firms that want a quicker means of reaching their target market. 

As pointed out by Senator Wiener via an official statement, it is imperative that today’s Internet service providers not be allowed to get away with choosing which client can enjoy special access to certain websites, apps, or web service. The senator further explained that implementing fairness in the vast information superhighway would not only give protection to consumers and businesses, but also help immensely in fostering a healthy economy and field of competition. 

Senator Wiener’s Bill 822 is actually the other half of a legislation introduced by lawmakers of the Golden State in 2018. The overall purpose of the proposed law was to bring back the version of the net neutrality rules that were adopted by the FCC back in 2015. While Obama’s net neutrality regulations had met support from various consumer and civil rights advocacy groups, the rules did not get some love from broadband and wireless service providers who claimed that the law throttles investment and stifles innovation in the wireless industry.

It is worth mentioning that California is far from being the only state in America to seriously consider reinstating the 2015 net neutrality rules. Over half of the country’s states are currently drafting similar laws to enforce Internet equality, with Washington, Montana, and New York among the first ever to make a firm stand.

Of course, California’s Bill 822 is the likely the more strict among the bunch. Not only will it implement the original 2015 net neutrality regulations, it will also effectively restrict Internet service providers from making deals that economically discriminate against specific web pages or web services, including zero rated plans and sponsored web content. Back in 2015, the FCC did not have definite rules against zero rating, but in the mind of Senator Wiener, the law should be crystal clear.