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Court backs dismantling of net neutrality but says New York can set its own rules
Oct 02, 2019 12:34 am
Cayla Harris reports in the Albany Times Union that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Oct. 1 largely upheld the Federal Communication Commission's decision to scrap net neutrality. But the court said states such as New York could set up their own internet rules. New York Assemblyperson Patricia Fahy, an Albany-based Democrat, touted her legislation earlier this year to enforce net neutrality rules in state contracts. "Today's decision renews the urgency for the Legislature to pass my bill requiring New York state to adopt some of the strongest net neutrality standards in the nation in order to ensure that all residents have ready access to a free and open internet access," Fahy wrote in an email. That bill passed the Assembly last year, but never had a vote in the Senate. Gov. Andrew Cuomo previously issued an executive order barring state government contracts with internet companies that did not follow net neutrality standards. Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers should provide access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites. Read more about this story in the Albany Times Union.