Well skip to me loo and how'dyadoo, here's reason number 34,350 to love this place:
A diverse coalition of Mainers applauded the enactment today of the first net neutrality resolve in the nation. The resolution, LD 1675, recognizes the importance of "full, fair and non-discriminatory access to the Internet" and instructs the Public Advocate to study what can be done to protect the rights of Maine internet users.
"Maine is the first state in the nation to stand up for its citizens' rights to a nondiscriminatory internet," said Senator Ethan Strimling, the original sponsor of LD 1675. "The rest of the nation should follow suit and study what can be done to protect net neutrality."
"Maine is once again leading the way in protecting the rights of its citizens," said Shenna Bellows, Executive Director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union. "This resolution will help re-establish the internet as the free and open arena of democracy it was always intended to be."
The giant telcos must be seething (at least I hope they are). More details on the flip side, including the actual particulars. I'll be interested to get your reaction to it. I'm no expert on net neutrality, but this sounds like a real victory.
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The full release is here. But here are a couple more choice paragraphs from the Common Cause press release:
"This important legislation puts Maine first in affirming that Internet providers should not be allowed to discriminate by speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination," said Tony Vigue of the Community Television Association of Maine.
Advocates agree that passage of the net neutrality resolution is a giant step forward. "This is a victory for everyone who uses the Internet in Maine," said Jon Bartholomew, National Media and Democracy Organizer for Common Cause. "Every Mainer who uses the web for business, to find information or to speak their minds should thank the legislature for listening to them over the giant telecommunication firms."
And the nuts and bolts of the measure (emphasis mine):
- Evaluate the actions of the Federal Communications Commission, the United States Congress and other appropriate agencies of government with respect to ensuring that citizens’ rights to full, fair and nondiscriminatory access to the Internet are not impeded;
- Monitor the Federal Communication Commission’s inquiry into broadband industry practices, FCC-07-31, WC Docket No. 07-52;
- Collect information on legislative and regulatory actions of other states on these issues;
- Review the State’s telecommunications and technology policies, including the ConnectME Authority established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 9203, and evaluate the extent to which those policies are encouraging adequate investment in technology infrastructure to support a strong Internet system and continued expansion of broadband access in this State; and
- Review the extent of the State’s authority to protect the rights of users of the Internet in the State to full, fair and nondiscriminatory access to the Internet; and be it further
Sec. 2 Report. Resolved: That, no later than February 1, 2008, the Office of the Public Advocate shall submit a report summarizing the results of its activities under section 1 to the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy.’
We also have pretty good lobster up here, too.
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