Localities Ask California Lawmakers to Come Back for Broadband Bill

Next Century Cities supported calls to reconvene California's legislature to pass SB-1130 to increase the state internet speed standard to 25 Mbps symmetrical from 6/1 Mbps (see 2009290064). “Access to the internet in our rural and urban areas makes the difference between whether people got evacuation orders and are able to access critical information,” Next Century Cities quoted Santa Cruz County Third District Supervisor Ryan Coonerty saying, in a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). COVID-19 makes the digital divide more acute, says Second District Supervisor Zach Friend.