In October 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 414 — the Digital Equity Bill of Rights — making California the first state in the nation to enshrine digital equity as a matter of state law.

The bill was authored and championed by Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes of the 50th Assembly District in San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire, and sponsored by our client, the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF). It passed both chambers without a single opposing vote.

The legislation establishes as state policy that all Californians shall have access to broadband that is sufficient, equitable, accessible, affordable, reliable, and ubiquitous — recognizing that digital equity, in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in society, democracy, and the economy, is essential for civic engagement, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.

Key provisions of the Digital Equity Bill of Rights include universal access, digital literacy, affordable devices, inclusive content and services, and data privacy and security. The bill also addresses the needs of communities that have historically been left behind — including low-income neighborhoods, rural areas, and tribal lands — establishing that all Californians have the right to the high-speed internet access and digital skills necessary to navigate today’s world.

CETF, a statewide nonprofit foundation with the mission to close the Digital Divide in California, celebrated the signing as a framework of commitment to digital equity for all Californians. As Assemblymember Reyes put it, the Digital Divide has become a Digital Chasm — and AB 414 is a landmark step toward bridging it.

We are proud to have worked alongside CETF in advancing this historic legislation and bringing California one step closer to a future where every resident, regardless of zip code or income, has a fair shot at participating in the digital economy.