Stanford Law professor Barbara van Schewick explains the specifics:

“In July, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the federal agency that distributes BEAD money, approved California’s BEAD deployment plan. On August 31, it issued the award: $1.42 billion to connect about 270,000 homes and businesses.

Buried in the award’s terms and conditions is a clause known as Condition 50. By signing the award, California would agree not to enforce its affordability, net neutrality, and public-safety protections against any internet service provider (ISP) that receives BEAD money.”