California digital equity advocates move to oppose broadband affordability bill

Digital equity advocates have been supporting a bill in the California state legislature that, similar to New York, would require broadband providers to offer an affordable service option for low-income households. But now those same advocates are opposing the legislation over amendments that would make it difficult to enforce and saddle low-income Californians with slower services. The bill in question—AB 353—was introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Tasha Boerner in early 2025 and was passed in the Assembly on June 4. The legislation was previously written to require internet service providers in the state to offer a plan of at least 100/20 Mbit/s at $15/month. (New York's law requires ISPs to offer a $15/month plan at 25 Mbit/s, the federal minimum standard for broadband when the law was passed, or a $20/month plan at 200 Mbit/s.) However, the California bill is now being amended in a way that has moved former supporters in the digital equity and consumer advocacy space to oppose the legislation.