How AT&T and Comcast are trying to kill California’s net neutrality bill

A strong network neutrality bill is advancing through the CA legislature, and the Big Intenet service providers (ISPS)–mainly AT&T and Comcast–are working overtime to stop it in its tracks. The bill passed the state Senate on May 30 by a healthy 23 to 12 margin. In the weeks leading up to that vote, lobbyists for the big ISPs tried to spread enough doubt about the bill’s possible implications that lawmakers would simply not vote on it. CA Senate Democrats needed an extra date to find the votes, but they found them, and the bill moved on to the Assembly. The ISPs are powerful, well-monied, and well dug-in with California lawmakers–especially AT&T, which contributed $511,000 to the California Democratic Party in 2017, and $339,500 to the California Republican Party. By June 18, people close to the politicking were saying the California net neutrality bill is in grave danger of being neutered in committee before being put to a vote.