EBS STAFF
HELENA – On
Oct. 1, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision that requires state
telecom contractors to adhere to net-neutrality. Effectively, this order
prohibits Internet providers from blocking, slowing down or speeding up access
to websites based on their ability to pay for such a boon.
“From the
beginning we said that if the federal government won’t protect our access to a
free and open internet, it would be up to the states,” said Gov. Steve Bullock
in a statement praising the court’s decision.
“Montana was
the first to act, setting off a nationwide movement of executive orders and
state laws to protect the open internet,” he added. “The D.C. Circuit confirmed
that states can protect their citizens when the federal government fails them.”
