When Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, D, signed an executive order Monday, the state became the first to require internet service providers with state contracts follow net neutrality rules, according to The Hill.
Although nearly 21 states attorneys general filed a lawsuit challenging the repeal of net neutrality and Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill to restore the regulations, Mr. Bullock's order marks the first state against the Federal Communications Commission's action.
"There has been a lot of talk around the country about how to respond to the recent decision by the [FCC] to repeal net neutrality rules, which keep the internet free and open. It's time to actually do something about it," Mr. Bullock said in a statement. "This is a simple step states can take to preserve and protect net neutrality. We can't wait for folks in Washington, D.C., to come to their senses and reinstate these rules."
Though the FCC's repeal bans states from implementing their own net neutrality rules, many legislators have pushed against this.
Under the order, to receive a contract from the state of Montana for providing telecommunications services, the service provider is prohibited from blocking lawful content, throttling, impairing or degrading lawful internet traffic on the basis of internet content, engaging in paid prioritization, or unreasonably interfering or disadvantaging the users' ability to select, access and use broadband internet access service.
Mr. Bullock encouraged other states to follow course, and said he would offer the framework to other states interested in it.
"When the FCC repealed its net neutrality rules, it said consumers should choose. The State of Montana is one of the biggest consumers of internet services in our state. Today we're making our choice clear: we want net neutrality," Mr. Bullock said.
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