In Olympia, internet providers pushed back Thursday against legislation that would require them to continue offering accessible and open Internet service in Washington.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are trying to replace net neutrality regulations that the Federal Communications Commission established in 2015 but recently rolled back. Two separate bills in the House of Representatives would prohibit providers from blocking content or making some websites pay more for faster Internet speeds. The measures propose many of the same regulations, and sponsors say they would work together to remove any inconsistencies. However, a trade representative working with companies including AT&T, Sprint, T Mobile, Verizon, and US Cellular told the House Technology and Economic Development Committee that the laws aren’t necessary because the federal government already has the power to intervene through the Federal trade Commission, and state regulations could cause problems for multi-state companies.
A third bill heard by the committee would limit how ISPs could use data collected from their customers, specifically for marketing purposes. It would prohibit Internet providers from selling or transferring customer information without opt-in consent.
Meanwhile, the Senate Energy, Environment and Technology Committee on Thursday considered whether Internet providers should be required to disclose information about performance, commercial practices, rates, and terms of service.
A measure to do so also would bar government agencies from entering a service agreement with Internet providers that fail to meet disclosure requirements. (Spokesman-Review)
