Communications: broadband internet service providers.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill requires legislative findings demonstrating the need for protecting public interest, but these specific details are not provided in the official summary.

Broadband Internet Service Provider Reporting Requirements

AB-1271 requires broadband internet service providers to submit annual reports on pricing and speed data, establish a consumer complaint resolution process, and disclose this information clearly to consumers.

What This Bill Does

• Requires broadband internet service providers to submit annual reports containing broadband internet access service pricing and speed data to the Department of Consumer Affairs or the Department of Broadband and Digital Equity if Assembly Bill 693 is enacted.
• Publishes an annual report aggregating and analyzing broadband internet access service affordability and speed data submitted by providers.
• Makes this data available to the public.
• Imposes penalties up to $1,000 per violation per day for non-compliance with reporting requirements.
• Requires broadband internet service providers to establish a consumer complaint resolution process allowing complaints via telephone, email, or online portal and responding within 7 business days.

Who It Names or Affects

• Broadband internet service providers
• Consumers of broadband internet services

Terms To Know

Digital Equity Bill of Rights

A principle that aims to ensure all residents have access to digital resources and technology.

Broadband Internet Service Provider

Companies that provide high-speed internet services to consumers.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill's requirements are contingent upon funding being available.
• It does not specify the exact timeframe for complaint resolution beyond 7 business days and a specified timeframe thereafter.
• The bill requires legislative findings demonstrating the need for protecting public interest, but these specific details are not provided.

Official Summary Text

AB 1271, as amended, Bonta.
Communications: broadband internet service providers.
Existing law, the Digital Equity Bill of Rights, provides that it is the principle of the state to ensure digital equity for all residents of the state, that, among other things, residents have access to broadband that meets specific requirements, and provides that it is the policy of the state that, to the extent technically feasible, broadband internet subscribers benefit from equal access to broadband internet service within the service area of a broadband provider.
This
bill
bill, contingent upon funding for this purpose,
would require a broadband internet service provider, on or before January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, to submit to the
Department of Consumer
Affairs
Affairs, or the Department of Broadband and Digital Equity if Assembly Bill 693 of the 2025–26 Regular Session is enacted,
a report containing broadband internet access service pricing and speed data that includes, among other information, the advertised speeds offered to consumers and the advertised and total prices paid by consumers. The bill would require the department to publish an annual broadband internet access service affordability and speed report aggregating and analyzing the data submitted by the broadband internet service providers and would require the department to make the data submitted by broadband internet service providers available to the public, as specified. The bill would make a broadband internet service provider that fails to comply with these provisions subject
to an administrative penalty not to exceed $1,000 per violation per day until compliance is achieved.
This bill would require a broadband internet service provider to establish and maintain a dedicated consumer complaint resolution process that allows consumers to submit complaints via telephone, email, and an online portal, and would require a broadband internet service provider to respond to a complaint within 7 business days and provide a resolution, explanation, or corrective action within a specified timeframe. The bill would prescribe remedies for a consumer if a broadband internet service provider fails to resolve a complaint within the specified timeframe or refuses to act in good faith, including the issuance of a minimum credit of $50 for a complaint that remains unresolved beyond 60 days without valid justification. The bill would require a broadband internet service provider to disclose the complaint resolution process and remedies
clearly and conspicuously in its terms of service, in its billing statements, and on its internet website. The bill would require a broadband internet service provider to report
quarterly
complaint statistics to the department, as specified.
Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF