State’s Hurrying To Protect Net Neutrality

Washington has already passed a law protecting net neutrality, and Oregon’s is about to be enacted. In all more than 20 states are debating passage of such laws. California has three bills pending that, if passed, would create the most comprehensive net neutrality defense of any state while promoting community broadband. They are on track to get to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk before he leaves office, and he is likely to sign them. They restore the ban on blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization the FCC recently repealed, and make it easier for local governments to engage in community broadband projects to give their residents choice and competition in the ISP market. More than half of all Americans, including Californians, have only one choice for high-speed broadband access. Decisions like Google’s and Verizon’s that neither company will any longer expand its fiber product have left most Americans only a monopoly choice, if that, when it comes to high-speed broadband. Without that choice consumers can’t pick an ISP that adheres to net neutrality principles over one that doesn’t, nor do ISPs have any incentive to protect privacy or net neutrality. One of the bills pending in California will address that problem.