California may agree to delay enforcement of its new net neutrality law, which is scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1 2019, according to Politico. The California law reinstates Obama-era net neutrality rules and was opposed by many telecommunications industry groups. Almost immediately after the bill was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, the Depart of Justice (DoJ) filed a lawsuit against the state seeking to block the measure. Politico reported today there is an agreement in the works between California, the DoJ, and broadband trade groups to delay enforcement of the new law pending the resolution of ongoing Federal litigation. Sources familiar with the negotiations told Politico that government officials, as well as USTelecom, CTIA, NCTA, and the American Cable Association, would agree to delay litigation against California over its new law while the D.C. Circuit Court considers a separate challenge to the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) changes earlier this year to Federal net neutrality rules. In exchange for pressing pause on litigation against its law, California would agree to hold off on enforcing the new state rules until the District Court wraps up its process. As of now, the California Attorney General’s Office, the DOJ, FCC, and USTelecom have not publicly commented on the matter.
