Monumental Broadband Legislation by Senator Lena Gonzalez and Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry Signed Into Law

Sacramento, Calif. – On October 8, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 4 by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Assembly Bill (AB) 14 by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) to advance Digital Equity in the state and provide high-speed internet access to more Californians. These new laws will complement the recent $6 Billion budget investment passed this summer for broadband infrastructure deployment projects by ensuring last mile connections are realized and providing sustainable, long-term funding, which will bring an additional $1.5 Billion over the next 10 years. 
 
“This is huge news that will make a significant positive difference in the lives of Californians,” said Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). “Enacting SB 4 and AB 14 means that children will no longer have to do their homework outside of fast-food restaurants. It means medically fragile individuals will have more access to care via telehealth, and small businesses and workers will have more access to online resources, greater upward mobility, and economic opportunity. The need for high-quality internet and future-proof infrastructure has never been more important than now and I am pleased that my colleagues in the Legislature and Governor Newsom have taken this bold step to help us close the digital divide. Today, California leads stronger than ever toward digital equity and Broadband for All.”
 
"Governor Newsom’s approval of AB 14 and SB 4 is a historic development for California," said Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters). "In partnership with my colleague Senator Gonzalez, and two dozen of our colleague coauthors, we have highlighted the critical need to modernize our state’s broadband policy and programs, and a commitment to long-term funding to guarantee internet connectivity for all California communities, rural and urban.  I am immensely proud that our efforts also contributed to a budget deal between Governor Newsom, Pro Tem Atkins and Speaker Rendon that provided a generational $6 billion investment in broadband infrastructure. Modern, adaptable technology in every corner of our State will provide access to education and job training, health care, Ag-tech, and small business participation in the digital economy. Today, Governor Newsom’s signature has delivered on our commitment to Internet for All."

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Senator Gonzalez represents the 33rd Senate District, which includes the City of Long Beach and portions of South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles including the cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Lakewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, Signal Hill, and South Gate. Senator Gonzalez lives in Long Beach with her family. 
 
Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry represents the 4th Assembly District, which includes all of Lake and Napa Counties, parts of Colusa, Solano and Sonoma Counties, and all of Yolo County except West Sacramento. Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry resides in Winters a block from her childhood home with her longtime partner, Larry Harris, and has two grown daughters and a stepson.