States with Net Neutrality Laws

Quote: SJR12 Type: Resolution Bill Status: Failed. Adjourned session 16.04.2018 Description: Call on the US Congress to repeal the Federal Communication Commission`s order to end net neutrality. State Utility Commission Involvement: None Last update: 10/05/2018 The attorneys general of 22 states have filed a petition for review against the FCC with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Minutes after the FCC`s vote on December 14, 2017, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced his intention to file a multistate lawsuit against the FCC to «stop the illegal removal of net neutrality.» [176] Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has also declared his intention to prosecute. [176] Establishes the Net Neutrality Protection Act of 2018 and prohibits undue interference with or unreasonable discrimination in the ability of end-users to select, access and use broadband Internet access services or lawful Internet content, applications, services or devices of their choice, or the ability of edge providers to put content, lawful applications, services or devices available to end users. Given the patchwork of net neutrality rules, broadband trade associations may well conclude that a single rulebook is desirable. Achieving this goal would likely require federal legislation, especially if the California decision is upheld on appeal. A federal legislative effort would almost certainly answer the broader question: What role will the FCC play with respect to broadband communications services? Meanwhile, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is becoming increasingly obsolete. Title 66 Public Utilities of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Amendments to General Provisions; provides definitions; ensures net neutrality. In the early 2000s, lawyers such as Tim Wu and Lawrence Lessig addressed the issue of neutrality in a series of scientific papers dealing with the regulatory frameworks of packet networks.

In particular, Wu noted that the internet is structurally biased against voice and video apps. The debate that began in the United States has spread internationally, albeit with marked differences from European debates. [37] To investigate the suggestion that some of the anti-net neutrality comments could fraudulently use the names of real people without their knowledge, Fight for the Future created a website called comcastroturf and claimed [on May 23, 2017]: «Someone submitted nearly half a million anti-net neutrality comments to the FCC, many of which appear to be completely false – with stolen names and addresses,» and invite the reader to see if any comments have been submitted by someone else on their behalf. On May 23, Fight for the Future reported that they had «received a cease and desist order from Comcast`s attorneys alleging that Comcastroturf.com. infringes Comcast`s «valuable intellectual property.» The letter threatens legal action if the domain is not transferred to Comcast`s control. «This is exactly why we need the neutrality protection of Title II, which prohibits blocking, throttling and censorship,» said Evan Greer, campaign director for Fight for the Future. «If Ajit Pai`s plan comes to fruition, there`s nothing stopping Comcast from simply blocking sites like Comcastroturf.com that criticize their corporate policies.» [156] [157] The battle over California`s law makes clear that ISPs such as AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast Aijit Pais did not ask the FCC to abolish net neutrality protections because they overwhelmed the federal government or because the FCC lacked the authority to do so. It was because they wanted to be free from consumer protection at all levels.

They know they`re sitting on an essential service that people literally can`t live without, but they want full control over what you have to pay for, how you get it, and how you`re treated by them. But that`s not how it works. ISPs cannot allow the FCC to relinquish its authority and prevent states from intervening on behalf of their residents. In addition, the mayors of 122 cities¹ and Santa Cruz County (CA) have committed to requiring companies that contract with the city or use municipal services to comply with net neutrality rules. The full list of net neutrality cities as of 07.06.2018 can be found below. Reference: HB 277 Type: Legislation Bill status: Failed. Meeting adjourned on 16.04.2018 Description: ISPs must comply with net neutrality standards and make public network management practices, performance and commercial conditions Involvement of the State Utility Commission: none Last update: 10/05/2018 Reference: S 289 Type: Bill Statute: Enacted, signed by the Governor, 23.05.2018; Valid from 01.07.2018 Description: A law to protect consumers and promote an open Internet in Vermont. State Utility Commission Involvement: By 12/15/2018, stakeholders from the GA, PSC, industry and consumers must consult and draft a report or legislation «indicating whether and to what extent the state should adopt net neutrality rules that apply to Internet service providers providing broadband Internet access services in Vermont.» Last update: 10/05/2018 Calls on the President and Congress of the United States to restore net neutrality in federal law.

Reference: HB4614 Type: Invoice Status: Failed; Suspension of the sitting 5/10/2018 Description: Telecommunications companies or ISPs providing broadband internet access services shall publish accurate information on their network management practices, performance and commercial conditions of their broadband internet access services, sufficient to enable consumers to make informed decisions about the use of these services and to develop content, applications, services and device providers. market and maintain Internet offerings. Telecommunications service providers and ISPs may not unreasonably block, limit, prioritize or disrupt user content or access. State Utility Commission Involvement: Provides that the Public Service Commission may lift the ban on paid prioritization only if the petitioner demonstrates that the practice «would provide a significant benefit in the public interest and would not interfere with the open nature of the Internet in South Carolina.» Last update: 10/05/2018 Net neutrality is the concept that all traffic on a network must be handled indiscriminately and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) must be prevented from blocking, slowing down or accelerating the delivery of online content at their discretion. The current debate around net neutrality revolves primarily around how ISPs should be regulated and the role the government should play in overseeing its network management practices. We`ll avoid finding out what`s going on in Donald Trump`s mind, but it seems that he has done more to help companies that will lose net neutrality than to track public opinion. Amends the telecommunications section of the Public Utilities Act. Requires broadband service providers to disclose accurate information about the network management practices, performance and commercial conditions of their broadband Internet access service sufficient to allow consumers to make informed decisions about how to use the service. Prevents broadband providers from blocking legitimate non-harmful content, applications, services, or devices, subject to appropriate network management practices.

Prevents broadband providers from interfering with or impeding content, application, or service-based Internet traffic. Prevents broadband service providers from prioritizing paid services. Prevents broadband service providers from unreasonably impairing or disadvantage a consumer`s ability to use the service or a content provider`s ability to provide content to a customer. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce a violation of the provisions as an unlawful act within the meaning of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Marketing Practices Act. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Marketing Practices Act to make compliant amendments. Internet service providers can ask the Supreme Court to review ACA Connects, and they can still argue that SB-822 discriminates against interstate commerce. In July 2021, the Biden administration issued executive orders urging the FCC to restore net neutrality. However, given that the FCC currently consists of two Republican commissioners and two Democratic commissioners, no action is expected until the Senate confirms Gigi Sohn, Biden`s FCC nominee. Congress has also introduced legislation that would mandate net neutrality, but few expect that to succeed. Instructs the Board of Public Utilities to prohibit Internet service providers from installing broadband telecommunications infrastructure on certain towers or underground facilities, unless the Internet service providers adhere to the principle of net neutrality.

Provides regulatory oversight of Internet service providers by the Public Utilities Commission, requires net neutrality, and refers to the location of devices on utility poles. Outside the United States, several countries have abolished net neutrality protocols and have begun charging double fees for content delivery (once to consumers and once to content providers).