Montana Becomes First State To Implement Its Own Net Neutrality Rules Following FCC Repeal

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) signed an executive order on Monday requiring internet service providers with state contracts to abide by net neutrality rules, making Montana the first state to implement its own open internet rules since the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to repeal the Obama-era rules last month.

“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.

“This is a simple step states can take to preserve and protect net neutrality. We can’t wait for folks in Washington DC to come to their senses and reinstate these rules.”

The Hill added:

The order says that in order to receive a contract with the state government, internet service providers must not engage in blocking or throttling web content or create internet fast lane. Those practices were all banned under the Obama-era 2015 net neutrality order.

The Republican FCC voted to dismantle those rules in December.