States Push Back After Net Neutrality Repeal
State Representative Norma Smith, a Republican who introduced the other bill in Washington, said net neutrality was an important safeguard for small businesses
that might not be able to pay internet service companies for fast speeds.
Lawmakers in at least six states, including California and New York, have introduced bills in recent weeks
that would forbid internet providers to block or slow down sites or online services.
“There tends to be a follow-on effect, particularly when something happens in a big state like California,” said Harold Feld,
a senior vice president at nonprofit consumer group, Public Knowledge, which supports net neutrality efforts by the states.
“When Washington, D. C., takes away that protection, we must protect net neutrality for our people, for our businesses
and for the virtues of free speech,” Mr. Inslee, a Democrat, said.
The Federal Communications Commission’s new order, which rolled back rules passed in 2015, blocks state
and city governments from creating their own net neutrality laws.
makes it out to be,” said State Representative Drew Hansen, a Democrat who has
introduced one of two net neutrality bills in Washington in recent weeks.
But the state lawmakers argue that they have an obligation to protect consumers with net neutrality rules and
that local governments can approve or deny requests by telecommunications providers to operate in their states.
