In Vermont, Chairman Pai says states can't regulate internet providers

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In a surprise trip to Vermont to tout rural broadband access, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said that states can't impose their own rules to protect network neutrality. VT is one of eight states that bar internet providers from blocking or throttling web traffic. Lawmakers in two dozen other states have introduced net neutrality legislation aimed at wrestling some control of the internet from the FCC. Chairman Pai argues they don't have the legal authority to do so. "A recent court decision made this clear -- that the internet is inherently interstate activity, and it follows from that that only the federal government can set policy," he said. "You don't want a patchwork of 50 different states taking a bite at the regulatory apple."  Chairman Pai also responded to questions about the agency's policies on social media. He said he doesn't want sites like Facebook and Twitter to operate under the same rules that internet providers do. But he thinks it's time for more oversight of social media. "What I've said is that we should simply have transparency, that consumers should understand how these social-media tech giants are using their information, and how that information is ultimately being collected," Chairman Pai said. "I think, especially as these social media platforms ultimately control how we experience the internet, what we see and what we don't, I think it's time we have some more insight."


In Vermont, Chairman Pai says states can't regulate internet providers FCC chairman visits the Green Mountain State (WPTV Burlington)