Monkeybrains, the local internet provider, the great beneficiary
by El Reportero Staff
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1414, giving California renters the right to choose their own internet provider — a move expected to help thousands of San Francisco residents stuck with costly, landlord-controlled internet plans.
Starting January 1, 2026, landlords will no longer be able to force tenants to pay for “bulk billing” internet services bundled into leases. Tenants who don’t want those subscriptions can opt out and, if charged anyway, are legally allowed to deduct the amount from their rent.
“This is about freedom of choice and fair competition,” said Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Tracy), who authored the bill. “For too long, renters have paid for services they didn’t choose, often at higher prices.”
San Francisco-based internet provider Monkeybrains, which helped advocate for the bill, praised the new law. “This will liberate renters and promote competition,” said company spokesperson Alex Menendez. “Tenants should decide who connects them — not their landlords.”
Local renters say the law could mean better service and lower costs. “It’s not fair to be forced to pay for slow, unreliable Wi-Fi,” said Maria Ortiz, a Mission District tenant.
Here at El Reportero, we’ve been with Monkeybrains for nearly two decades, and the difference is clear. “They don’t play pricing games,” said El Reportero publisher Marvin Ramírez. “While other providers raise rates after six or twelve months, we’ve paid the same $35 a month since the start.”
Monkeybrains plans to offer free information sessions for tenants and property managers to explain their new rights and how to access fair, independent internet options.
With AB 1414 now law, San Franciscans will soon enjoy true internet freedom — the right to connect on their own terms.
