States call on FCC to reject cable lobby's petition on slow broadband investigations

A bipartisan group of attorneys general from 35 states is urging the Federal Communications Commission to reject a petition from the cable and broadband industry asking the agency to take away state authority to investigate claims of false advertising over broadband speeds.

“The Petition represents nothing more than the industry’s effort to shield itself from state law enforcement,” the group wrote in a document to the FCC. “As the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, a federal agency may pre-empt state law only when and if it’s acting within the scope of its congressionally delegated authority,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. “The states’ consumer protection powers must be left intact to protect customers from providers who make false claims about broadband speed.”