Trio of net neutrality challenges coming from Washington state
Dec 27, 2017, 12:40 PM
The FCC voted to eliminate net-neutrality protections for the internet on Dec. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Two weeks after the FCC voted to repeal regulations on net neutrality, a trio of challenges are coming from Washington state.
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First, Senator Maria Cantwell plans to introduce a congressional resolution to undo the new rules. She already has 15 co-signers in the Senate.
Second, the State of Washington is working to regulate internet providers under the state utilities commission to ensure they don’t throttle or block any content.
Finally, Representative Drew Hansen is putting the final touches on a bill that would make it illegal for internet providers to block or prioritize content.
Even if the measures move ahead there could be pushback from the FCC and possibly a court challenge. When they repealed net neutrality, FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly stated he wouldn’t stand for a “hodgepodge of state rules” on the issue.
Net Neutrality regulations are designed to prevent service providers from showing favor to websites and apps. It is the principle that providers treat all web traffic equal.
In 2015, the FCC approved rules that ensured service providers wouldn’t manipulate web traffic and gave the commission the power to go after companies for questionable business practices that weren’t explicitly banned, The Associated Press reports.
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