Gavin Newsom Faces Monday Deadline on California's $1.42 Billion Federal Broadband Grant

The decision forces a choice between $1.42 billion in federal internet infrastructure funding and the state's authority to enforce its own telecommunications and consumer protection rules, such as mandatory backup power and anti-throttling regulations during wildfire emergencies.

• •Governor Gavin Newsom faces a Monday deadline to decide whether to accept California's $1.42 billion share of federal BEAD broadband funds.
• •The federal NTIA added Condition 50 in November, requiring states accepting the money to waive enforcement of any state laws that regulate broadband or impose net neutrality or utility-style rules.
• •Critics argue accepting the funds would invalidate California rules requiring ISPs to maintain 72 hours of backup power at equipment in high fire-threat areas.
• •Refusing the award could delay broadband expansion for about 270,000 unserved homes and businesses, primarily in rural areas.
• •Eight law professors signed an open letter urging Newsom to reject the grant or sue the federal government over Condition 50.
• •The state previously passed a 2019 law after Verizon throttled data speeds to Santa Clara County firefighters during the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire.
• •Opposition to signing the grant includes rural groups like the state Democratic Party's Rural Caucus and local Firewise communities along the lower Russian River.
• •California is noted as the last holdout state on the NTIA dashboard regarding the grant.