Regulatory classification

Gov David Ige (D-HI) is directing all state government agencies to contract for internet-related services only with providers who contractually agree to abide by net neutrality principals. He signed an executive order, effective Feb. 5, as part of his pledge to protect net neutrality in Hawaii. “An open internet is critically important to our people and our economy, connecting us to the rest of the world, increasing our commerce, fostering innovation, and adding to our economic growth.

We are seeing lots of activity in the states on net neutrality. All of which raises the question — can the states actually do that? The critical question is not, as some people seem to think, whether broadband involves interstate communications or not. Of course it does. So does ye olde plain old telephone service (POTS), and state regulated that up to the eyeballs back in the day (even if they have subsequently deregulated it almost entirely).

New Jersey will join nearly two dozen other states in a lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration's contentious repeal of network neutrality rules, said Gov Phil Murphy (D-NJ). Gov Murphy also signed an executive order requiring internet providers hired by the state adhere to the principles of net neutrality.

Ajit Pai had a dilemma when overseeing the creation of the Federal Communications Commission's new Broadband Deployment Report. Anyone who is familiar with the FCC chairman's rhetoric over the past few years could make two safe predictions about this report. The report would conclude that broadband deployment in the US is going just fine and that the repeal of network neutrality rules is largely responsible for any new broadband deployment.

[Commentary] Just seven years after the $30 billion mega-merger between Comcast and NBCUniversal, the behemoth company has been freed from the temporary rules the Federal Communications Commission imposed to prevent it from discriminating against its competitors. Whether you’re a TV consumer, another cable company or a content provider, there’s good reason to be concerned. Comcast-NBCU has found ways to leverage its assets in ways that harm consumers and competition, and some of these moves have violated the FCC's conditions.

The Federal Communication Commission's controversial repeal of network neutrality in 2017 has yet to go into effect, but a researcher at Northeastern University has built an app that detects when mobile carriers may be throttling traffic to apps like Netflix and YouTube. Dave Choffnes and his Ph.D. students built the app, called WeHe, in 2017 and now it's available for anyone to download.

Lawmakers in Rhode Island have introduced legislation to counter the repeal of federal network neutrality rules. RI state Rep Aaron Regunberg (D-Providence), introduced a bill to allow Rhode Island to preserve net neutrality as much as possible following the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of the policy. State Rep Regunberg, lieutenant governor candidate, says it would require internet access purchased or funded by the state be provided in an unbiased manner, consistent with net neutrality principles.

For those who still hold that Baton Rouge (LA) has missed the hyperpartisan political culture that defines Washington these days, a brief vignette from a recent Louisiana Public Service Commission meeting might prove enlightening. PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell, a Bossier Parish populist who carried the Democratic banner in the last Senate race, asked the regulatory panel to go on record supporting net neutrality, just like 22 other states have done. PSC Commissioner Mike Francis, who once chaired the Republican Party, asked the identity of the 22.

Championing a bill that protects consumers and ensures small businesses can compete in a world driven by technology made perfect sense to WA state Rep Norma Smith (R-Whidbey Island). State Rep Smith doesn’t view network neutrality laws as a partisan issue. Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, “this is an issue that needs to matter to everyone,” Smith said. State Rep Smith and WA state Rep Drew Hansen (D-Bainbridge Island) both have sponsored bills that would ensure net neutrality in Washington state. The bills were easily voted out of committee and now mirror each other.

Apparently, the Senate has now received official notice of the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality repeal. That procedural development is important because it could be the first step to triggering a 60-day clock for Congress to undo the FCC’s decision. (That is, 60 legislative days.) The Senate’s 47 Democrats and two independents plus Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) have said they would support such a maneuver, using the Congressional Review Act. That’s 50 votes, still one vote short of the number needed for approval in the Senate.