Bill Text: CA AB353 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Public Utilities Commission: Inspector General.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Vetoed) 2026-09-18 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB353 Detail]

Download: California-2025-AB353-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 24, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 353

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Introduced by Assembly Member Boerner

January 30, 2025

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An act relating to communications. An act to add Title 15.7 (commencing with Section 3150) to Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, relating to communications.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 353, as amended, Boerner. Communications: broadband internet service providers: affordable home internet.

Existing law, the Digital Equity Bill of Rights, provides that it is the principle of the state to ensure digital equity for all residents of the state, that residents shall have access to broadband that meets specific requirements, and that it is the policy of the state that, to the extent technically feasible, broadband internet subscribers benefit from equal access to broadband internet service within the service area of a broadband provider.

Existing law, the California Internet Consumer Protection and Net Neutrality Act of 2018, prohibits fixed and mobile internet service providers, as defined, that provide broadband internet access service, as defined, from engaging in specified actions concerning the treatment of internet traffic, including engaging in paid prioritization.

This bill would require every California internet service provider to offer for purchase to eligible households, as defined, within their California service territory affordable home internet service that meets minimum speed requirements, and to make commercially reasonable efforts to promote and advertise the availability of affordable home internet service for eligible households, as provided.

Existing law establishes within the Government Operations Agency the Department of Technology, which is supervised by the Director of Technology. Existing law authorizes the director and the department to exercise various powers in creating and managing the information technology policy of the state.

This bill would, starting January 1, 2027, require California internet service providers to annually provide a report to the Department of Technology with specified information related to their affordable home internet service plans and broadband products.

Existing law, the Digital Equity Bill of Rights, provides that it is the principle of the state to ensure digital equity for all residents of the state, that residents shall have access to broadband that meets specific requirements, and that it is the policy of the state that, to the extent technically feasible, broadband internet subscribers benefit from equal access to broadband internet service within the service area of a broadband provider.

Existing law, the California Internet Consumer Protection and Net Neutrality Act of 2018 prohibits fixed and mobile internet service providers, as defined, that provide broadband internet access service, as defined, from engaging in specified actions concerning the treatment of internet traffic, including engaging in paid prioritization.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would require broadband internet service providers to offer affordable home internet to California residents.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Title 15.7 (commencing with Section 3150) is added to Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, to read:

TITLE 15.7. Affordable Home Internet

3150.

 This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Affordable Home Internet Act of 2025.

3152.

 As used in this title, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Affordable home internet service” means an internet service plan or subscription costing no more than fifteen dollars ($15) per month, inclusive of any recurring taxes and fees.

(b) “California internet service provider” means an internet service provider doing business within California.

(c) “Commercial mobile service” means any mobile service that is provided for profit and makes interconnected service available to the public or to such classes of eligible users as to be effectively available to a substantial portion of the public.

(d) “Eligible household” means a household within the California internet service provider’s California service territory with at least one resident of the household participating in a qualified public assistance program.

(e) (1) “Internet service” or “internet” means “Broadband Internet access service” as defined in Section 3100.

(2) “Internet service” or “internet” does not include a commercial mobile service or a private mobile service.

(f) “Minimum speed requirements” means at least 100 megabits per second downstream and 20 megabits per second upstream and sufficient speed and latency to support distance learning and telehealth services.

(g) “Private mobile service” means any mobile service that is not a commercial mobile service or the functional equivalent of a commercial mobile service. The Department of Technology may subsequently modify the definition of “private mobile service” to avoid conflict with Section 332 of Title 47 of the United States Code or regulations adopted pursuant to that section.

(h) “Qualified public assistance program” means the California Alternate Rates for Energy or CARE program established pursuant to Section 739.1 of the Public Utilities Code, the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment Program under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program under Part A (commencing with Section 401) of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.), the CalFresh program established pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 18900) of Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the California Health Benefit Exchange established pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code, also known as Covered California, the state health care program established pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, also known as the Medi-Cal program, the federal Supplemental Security Income program established under Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act, or financial aid programs for postsecondary education.

3154.

 Every California internet service provider shall offer for purchase to eligible households within their California service territory affordable home internet service that meets minimum speed requirements.

3156.

 Every California internet service provider shall make commercially reasonable efforts to promote and advertise the availability of affordable home internet service for eligible households including, but not limited to, the prominent display of, and enrollment procedures for, that service on its website and in any written and commercial promotional materials developed to inform consumers in eligible households.

3158.

 Beginning on January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, every California internet service provider shall provide a report to the Department of Technology with the following information:

(a) A description of the affordable home internet service plan offered.

(b) The number of households that purchased the service and the number of households that were denied the service.

(c) A description of the procedures used to verify the eligibility of customers receiving an affordable home internet service plan.

(d) A description, including speed and price, of all broadband products offered in the state of California and whether prices are set at a statewide or regional basis.

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would require broadband internet service providers to offer affordable home internet to California residents.