NEW YORK (AP) - A group of attorneys general for 21 states and the District of Columbia, including Maine Attorney General Janet Mills, has sued to block the Federal Communications Commission's repeal of net-neutrality rules.
These rules barred companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon from interfering with internet traffic and favoring their own sites and apps. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's push to undo them inspired both street and online protests in defense of the Obama-era rules.
“The rollback of the net neutrality rule is bad news for consumers, individuals and businesses who use the Internet daily to do banking, pay bills, do schoolwork, and do their jobs,” Attorney General Mills said in a statement Wednesday.
New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman, who is leading the suit, said Tuesday that the end of the net neutrality rules would hurt consumers and businesses.
Tech companies and public-interest groups are also expected to file suit or help with litigation against the repeal.
Below is Attorney General Mills' full statement:
“The rollback of the net neutrality rule is bad news for consumers, individuals and businesses who use the Internet daily to do banking, pay bills, do schoolwork, and do their jobs,” said Attorney General Mills. “Additionally, if we as Americans cannot trust our government to conduct a truthful and legitimate process for one of the most significant regulatory rollbacks in this country’s history, how can we trust that this is the right decision? The FCC’s decision to vote on this matter during an ongoing investigation sends a bad message about their agenda. I am pleased to join Attorneys General from across the country in this important lawsuit to preserve and promote the public commons,” added Mills.
