Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson today, along with the attorneys general of 20 other states and the District of Columbia, filed a petition to block the FCC’s attempt to repeal net neutrality.
The FCC voted in December to scrap Obama-era rules that prohibit internet service providers from prioritizing some web sites and services over others. The FCC calls these measures draconian and believes abolishing them is the best course forward. Many disagree.
“Allowing powerful special interests to act as the internet’s gatekeepers harms consumers, innovation, and small businesses,” said Ferguson in a statement. “We believe the FCC acted unlawfully when it gutted net neutrality, and I look forward to holding the FCC accountable to the rule of law.”
Washington Governor Jay Inslee agreed, saying:
“Protecting net neutrality is as critical as protecting free speech. The FCC’s attack on the open internet is bad for Washingtonians, bad for business and a major step backward.”
Ferguson and the other attorneys general say the FCC’s decision violated the Administrative Procedure Act, which oversees the process for federal agency rulemaking, in addition to Constitution, and the Communications Act of 1934. Technically, the group filed a Protective Petition for Review (PDF), which puts them in line for a court date along with others suing the FCC over the reversal.
Today’s action coincides with an effort by 50 Senators who want to vote on halting the FCC’s actions and make Congress responsible for net neutrality rules.
