WA Passes Net Neutrality Legislation

Washington’s net neutrality law applies to all ISPs that serve residents, whether or not they have state deals. All internet service offered in Washington would have to be free from blocking or throttling of legal online content. Nor could it be subject to a system of premium-priced "fast lanes" that offer better bandwidth to content providers that pay extra for the privilege.

Net neutrality advocates (those supporting the FCC action repealing net neutrality) say undoing these rules makes it harder for the government to crack down on internet providers who act against consumer interests and will harm innovation. The FCC’s new rules are not expected to go into effect until later this spring.

Washington state’s net neutrality law is likely to face legal challenges. The FCC’s official repeal of net neutrality, which was published in the Federal Register last week, preempts states and local jurisdictions from passing de facto net neutrality laws. The FCC said it would "preempt any state or local measures that would effectively impose rules or requirements that we have repealed or decided to refrain from imposing in this order."