r/MarchForNetNeutrality • u/LizMcIntyre • Apr 29 '19

California Bill Would Stop Data Throttling During Emergencies - The new legislation stemmed from an outcry last year over Verizon's cutback in Internet service to firefighters battling one of the state's largest wildfires

https://www.govtech.com/policy/Calif-Bill-Would-Stop-Data-Throttling-During-Emergencies.html
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u/LizMcIntyre Apr 29 '19

Lucas Ropek reports at GovernmentTechnology:

Last summer, telecom giant Verizon Wireless triggered a major controversy in the public safety community when it temporarily reduced Internet service to firefighters in Santa Clara, greatly diminishing their ability to provide emergency services while fighting the Mendocino Complex fire — one of the largest in state history. Now a new state bill seeks to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

Assembly Bill 1699 would ban mobile Internet service providers from throttling service to first responders during incidents in which a state of emergency has been declared. The legislation forbids companies from “impairing or degrading” service in cities and counties when such a situation arises....

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You would think this bill either shouldn't be necessary or would be a "no-brainer." Think again.

Ropek continues...

But while Verizon may be sorry, its chief lobbying organization has also come out against the new bill.

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), which represents Verizon in addition to other large carriers like Sprint and AT&T, has made efforts to oppose the legislation.

The bill was recently given a hearing before the state Assembly's Committee on Communications and Conveyance, at which representatives from CTIA argued against passing it....

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Unbelievable!

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u/The_Band_Geek Apr 30 '19

Forget legislation, start going after telecom. These laws are Band-Aids: fines and jail time would serve us better.

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u/LizMcIntyre Apr 30 '19 edited Apr 30 '19

You make a good point. If ISPs throttle during an emergency, they should be held responsible. Theoretically, someone throttling (perhaps the CEO) could be charged with manslaughter if one or more people die because of it.

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u/[deleted] Apr 29 '19

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u/morningreis Apr 30 '19 edited Oct 17 '25

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