Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan has joined a lawsuit challenging the Federal Communications Commission's rollback of so-called 鈥渘et neutrality鈥� regulations.
The lawsuit was filed this week by attorneys general in 22 states. The Obama-era net neutrality rules for the FCC regulated internet providers like utilities, and protected internet users and websites from having their traffic blocked or throttled.
The suit calls rules 鈥渁rbitrary and capricious鈥� as well as illegal. Donovan said a repeal could affect the public鈥檚 access to information.
鈥淲hen we talk about the internet, there should be a national standard. That鈥檚 why the rule-making authority of the FCC is so critical. And to roll back those rules鈥攖o have no rules!鈥攊s going to create winners and losers, it鈥檚 going to create fast lanes and slow lanes, based on your ability to pay.鈥�
Donovan added that the FCC鈥檚 December vote was also illegal because it violated the commission鈥檚 own process of public oversight.
He stated the lawsuit aims to both block the FCC鈥檚 vote from going into effect and reinstate the net neutrality regulations.
Broadcast on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
