In a solid step toward net neutrality, California's federal court dismissed a challenge to the enforcement of the state's landmark net neutrality law. California's Senate Bill 822 had originally passed in 2018 to fill the gap that was left after the Trump administration repealed FCC net-neutrality rules in 2017. According to Law360:

California's state net neutrality statute, dubbed Senate Bill 822, bars internet service providers from speeding up, slowing down or showing priority to web traffic. With the 2018 measure, lawmakers aimed to replace the Federal Communications Commission's Obama-era net neutrality rules that were enacted in 2015 but repealed under the Trump administration in 2017.

Several trade associations had urged the court to preliminarily block the law, arguing it illegally seeks to regulate interstate communications. But U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez rejected that bid at a hearing Tuesday. The judge's decision was noted in a short docket entry that didn't include his rationale.

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S.B. 822 was initially set to take effect Jan. 1, 2019, but the U.S. Department of Justice and four trade associations — the American Cable Association, CTIA – the Wireless Association, the Internet & Television Association and U.S. Telecom Association — lobbed a pair of lawsuits at California's attorney general and governor looking to block it.

Partner Thomas H. Vidal, a member of the Litigation, Media + Entertainment, Intellectual Property, and Technology Groups, provided expertise and insight into the prominent issues in his amici curiae role.

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