New York

Lawmakers Ready to Fight for ‘Net Neutrality'; Attorney Generals Vow Suit

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) announced that he and 15 other senators will introduce a resolution that would restore the net neutrality rules

The Federal Communications Commission voted to end net-neutrality rules that guaranteed equal access to the internet on Thursday but opponents of the decision plan legal challenges.

The attorneys general of New York and Washington say they plan to file a lawsuit against the FCC to stop the rollback of the Obama-era rules.

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson says the agency failed to follow the Administrative Procedures Act, and New York's Eric Schneiderman released a statement saying the rollback will give internet service providers new ways to control what consumers can see, do and say online.

After the vote, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) announced that he and 15 other senators will introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would restore the net neutrality rules.

"With this CRA, Congress can correct the Commission’s misguided and partisan decision and keep the internet in the hands of the people, not big corporations," Markey said in a statement.

Schneiderman has been investigating fake public comments submitted to the FCC during the net neutrality comment process. He says his analysis shows 2 million comments stole the identities of real Americans, including dead people and children.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican, said at a July FCC meeting that the raw number of comments wasn't as important as the substance of issues raised.

Under the new rules, internet service producers such as Comcast and AT&T could block rival apps, slow down competing service or offer faster speeds to companies who pay up. They just have to post their policies online or tell the FCC.

Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which owns this television station.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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