Senator Wiener’s Statement on Gutting of Net Neutrality Bill in Assembly Committee

Sacramento – Today the Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee gutted Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) bill to restore Obama-era net neutrality protections in California. The hostile amendments to Senate Bill 822 were made before the bill even had a hearing, which goes against standard practice. Senator Wiener’s statement:

“What happened today was outrageous. After the Senate passed SB 822, with strong net neutrality protections, the Assembly committee forced hostile amendments into the bill before even holding a hearing, before taking any public comment, and only 12 hours after making those amendments public. These hostile amendments eviscerate the bill and leave us with a net neutrality bill in name only. In negotiations leading up to the committee hearing, I expressed a willingness to negotiate the provisions of the bills - and I remain willing to negotiate - but I can’t support a weak version of net neutrality that eliminates critical provisions. I’m proud to stand with a broad coalition of labor, media, anti-poverty, social justice, consumer, and business organizations, as well as elected leaders, including Senator Kevin de Leon, in fighting for net neutrality. California should lead by example and enact the strongest net neutrality protections in the country. Passing a weak, neutered bill is exactly the wrong direction for our state.”