Bill Text: MI SR0131 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to urge the Governor to issue an executive order requiring internet service providers with state contracts to abide by net neutrality principles.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-21 - Referred To Committee On Government Operations [SR0131 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2017-SR0131-Introduced.html
Senator Bieda offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 131.
A resolution to urge the Governor to issue an executive order requiring internet service providers with state contracts to abide by net neutrality principles.
Whereas, Broadband internet is a critically important communications method Americans use to connect with one another. Businesses, consumers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries use the internet for a variety of purposes, making it indispensable in today's economy; and
Whereas, In 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed rules to protect net neutrality and equal access to content and services available on the internet. The rules reclassified internet service as a telecommunications service, essentially designating broadband as a public utility, granting the FCC greater oversight over the industry. As a result of the rules, service providers could not change the speed at which users could access information on the internet or create fast lanes or slow lanes of content. An open internet promotes competition, benefiting entrepreneurs and small businesses, and keeps the United States at the forefront of technological, business, and social innovation on the internet; and
Whereas, In December 2017, the FCC reversed its net neutrality regulations, significantly reducing regulation of cable and telecommunications companies. The reversal will allow broadband providers to charge different rates to guarantee higher priority and faster data transmission; and
Whereas, Internet service providers with government contracts should be prohibited from blocking or throttling web content or creating internet fast lanes and instead provide open access and fair use of the internet for all users; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the Governor to issue an executive order requiring internet service providers with state contracts to abide by net neutrality principles; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor.
