Montana governor signs executive order to retain net neutrality

While most efforts being mounted to restore net neutrality face big obstacles and are likely to take months to succeed, the governor of Motana has brought the rules to broad parts of his state with the stroke of a pen.

Governor Steve Bullock, through an executive order declared yesterday that any internet service provider with a state government contract cannot neither block nor charge higher rates for faster speeds, two core aspects of net neutrality, to any customer in the state.

Charter, CenturyLink, AT&T and Verizon and many others hold government contracts in the state and the new requirements apply to new and renewed contracts signed after 1 July, 2018.

According to commentators this action, which is the first of its kind by a governor, could face legal challenges.

The Federal Communications Commission last month rolled back net-neutrality rules meant to protect a free and open internet. Under the new rules, states cannot create net neutrality laws.

However, according to commentators, Bullock has been the advised by some public interest advocates, to argue that the state has wide latitude to set conditions to any contracts with the government - one of the biggest customers in most cities and states, to get around the FCC's restrictions.

''There has been a lot of talk around the country about how to respond to the recent decision by the Federal Communications Commission to repeal net neutrality rules, which keep the internet free and open. It's time to actually do something about it,'' Bullock said in a statement.