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South Gate Joins Fight Against 'Digital Discrimination' By Internet Companies
Many Angelenos rely on public libraries like the A C Bilbrew to connect the internet.
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Ashley Balderrama
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LAist
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Topline:
Another city in L.A. County is cracking down on what they say is a form of digital discrimination on the part of internet providers who offer slower, costlier service in low-income communities. The South Gate City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday to hold providers accountable and encourage residents to report any violations.
Why it matters: More than 200,000 Angelenos don’t have internet at home, and experts say cost is the main barrier. In South Gate, about 7% of households lack service. Mayor Gil Hurtado, who said his own service is spotty and unreliable, hopes other local municipalities on the Southeast Side will follow suit.
“We’ve had this issue for a long time… not doing anything is going to result in a continuation of a disparity,” he said.
Why now: California is leading the fight against digital discrimination. A new bill (AB 2239) to outlaw the practice recently moved off the Assembly floor and is now headed to the Senate for consideration. In January, the L.A. City Council unanimously approved the nation's first city-level policy. It creates a new way for residents to submit discrimination complaints against internet service providers.
The backstory: Gov. Gavin Newsom recently proposed $2 billion in cuts to broadband projects that would have expanded access across the state. Advocates say the move could hurt efforts to reach L.A.’s most vulnerable communities, including seniors and low income residents.
Go Deeper: Read the Digital Equity L.A. Coalition’s report on pricing disparities.
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