Oakland Council OKs Bill for ISP Choice in MTEs

Oakland's council voted 7-0 to pass legislation to require ISP choice in multiple tenant environments, in a consent agenda at a virtual meeting Tuesday. The proposal cleared a council committee last month (see 2109290031). It's "a direct concrete step municipalities can take to mitigate our broken broadband marketplace,” emailed Media Alliance Executive Director Tracy Rosenberg. “By granting every occupant the unchallenged right to use any provider that can service them, residents can use the most affordable and reliable services available to them” and competitive ISPs “can get footholds in new regions.” This follows a similar San Francisco law. Mayoral approval isn't needed, and the ordinance will become law Dec. 19, said Rosenberg: “The city will start sending out notifications to property owners shortly.”