Various states including Washington, Massachusetts, New York, California and Rhode Island have all introduced their own net neutrality rules in the wake of the FCC’s reversal of federal rules, notwithstanding the fact the FCC’s revocation order attempts to ban circumstances from doing so at Verizon and Comcast’s request. Other states, like Montana and New York, have endorsed executive laws banning ISPs that violate net neutrality from defending state contracts.
In other words, necessary ISP efforts to dismantle arguably inexpensive and consistent federal net neutrality rules aren’t going especially well.
Adding fuel to this fire in Alaska, which now states it too is examining its own net neutrality protections for internet users. Under lately introduced SB 160, ISPs “may not block content or services, impair or degrade lawful internet traffic, or conflict with the end user’s entrance to the internet,” while allowing for “preferential bandwidth speeds for distance learning and telemedicine to secure rural Alaskans have passage to necessary services.”
“If Congress won’t protect the customers of Alaska, we in the legislature must,” said State Senator Tom Begich. “Access to data is vital to Alaskans and shouldn’t be exposed, especially in rural areas of the state.”
The FCC’s attempts to pre-empt states from protecting customers will likely result in numerous, costly legal battles around the country. Those actions will occur at the same time the FCC attempts to defend its handout to the telecom sector in the wake of claims by numerous customer groups and internet startups.
Of course, that’s something incumbent ISPs like Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, and Charter probably should have guessed about before they rushed to repeal consonant federal rules with broad, bipartisan support. Expect more offers like this as nervous politicians strive to get on the right side of this issue ahead of the looming midterms.
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