Massachusetts Net Neutrality Law Would Name and Shame Terrible ISPs

Massachusetts Net Neutrality Law Would Name and Shame Terrible ISPs

6 years ago
Anonymous $RBasgWKaIV

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/zmk3jx/massachusetts-net-neutrality-law-would-name-and-shame-terrible-isps

Massachusetts is proposing a new bill that would name and shame internet service providers that ignore net neutrality or violate consumer privacy. In the wake of the FCC’s repeal of net neutrality, more than half the states in the union are considering their own, state-level net neutrality rules. Some states are tackling the problem with legislation (California, Oregon, Washington), while others (like Montana) are signing executive orders banning state agencies from doing business with ISPs that behave anti-competitively. Most of these bills ban ISPs from engaging in most of the more common examples of anti-competitive behavior, including blocking or throttling competing websites or services. Others take aim at things like zero rating, or an ISP’s use of usage caps and overage fees to hamstring streaming alternatives and deter cord cutting. Massachusetts’ S2160 is trying something slightly different. Under the proposed law, the state would create an “internet service provider registry” that tracks whether ISPs adhere to privacy, net neutrality, and other consumer friendly policies. ISPs that respect consumer privacy and net neutrality would then be allowed to advertise a “Massachusetts Net Neutrality and Consumer Privacy Seal” of approval.

The goal is to force ISPs to be more transparent about their network management and handling of your private data. That’s of particular concern given the FCC replaced tough net neutrality and ISP transparency requirements with the policy equivalent of a pinky swear last December.