Communications: broadband internet service providers: affordable home internet.

Assembly Member Boerner's California Affordable Home Internet Act would require internet service providers to offer $15 monthly broadband plans to households participating in public assistance programs, establishing a new framework for expanding internet access across the state.

The legislation mandates that providers offer plans meeting minimum speed requirements of 100 megabits per second downstream and 20 megabits per second upstream to eligible households within their service territories. These speeds must support distance learning and telehealth services. Providers must prominently display information about these plans on their websites and in promotional materials, along with clear enrollment procedures.

Starting January 2027, providers would submit annual reports to the Department of Technology detailing their affordable internet offerings, including the number of households served and denied, eligibility verification methods, and comprehensive information about all broadband products and pricing structures in California. The reporting requirements allow the department to monitor implementation of the program while tracking service availability and adoption rates.

The measure builds upon California's existing Digital Equity Bill of Rights and Internet Consumer Protection and Net Neutrality Act by creating specific requirements for affordable access. Eligible households include those with residents participating in programs such as CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CARE utility discounts, and various other public assistance initiatives.