SB 1179: Affordable Internet and Net Equality Act of 2024.

Existing law requires all contracts for the acquisition of information technology goods and services related to information technology projects, as defined, to be made by or under the supervision of the Department of Technology, which also has the final authority in the determination of information technology procurement policy.

This bill, the Affordable Internet and Net Equality Act of 2024, would require the Department of Technology, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of General Services, to develop and establish the Net Equality Program. The bill would require the state and state agencies to only enter into a procurement contract with an internet service provider offering affordable home internet service to households participating in certain public assistance programs, as specified. The bill would define affordable home internet service to mean internet service costing no more than $30 per month and that meets specified minimum speed requirements. The bill would require these internet service providers to establish a telephone number to sign up eligible households and would require these providers to advertise the availability of affordable home internet service, among other requirements placed on these providers.

This bill would require the Department of Technology to annually post on its internet website a list of internet service providers that meet the requirements of the bill, as provided. The bill would not apply to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Office of Emergency Services, a contract entered into before January 1, 2026, or an internet service provider with fewer than 100,000 California residential subscribers. The bill would also make its provisions severable.