The Governor of California, Edmund Brown, has signed the “Broadband internet access service” bill which enshrines the principles of net neutrality in the state’s legislation. The bill had undergone controversial amendments in June, with some key provisions removed. In August, these were restored and the bill was voted through almost intact. The law strongly limits zero-rating, which cannot be carried out if “in exchange for consideration, monetary or otherwise”, and has to apply to an entire category of content, services, or devices. In response, the US Department of Justice has already announced it will file a lawsuit, on the grounds that “states do not regulate interstate commerce”. The FCC is supporting the DoJ’s lawsuit.
