Oregon took the lead in what’s now a growing list of states that are stepping up to protect the free flow of information online in the wake of the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to repeal “net neutrality” protections.
Common Cause lent a hand during Oregon’s short 2018 session to pass an unexpected Net Neutrality bill put forward by the House Majority Leader to use the state’s procurement power to require internet service providers (ISP’s) contracting with state agencies to abide by net neutrality principles
Public opinion polls indicate overwhelming popular support for maintaining net neutrality protections. The Oregon bill will require state and local governments to do business only with ISPs that observe net neutrality protections. Essentially, that means the providers must not move information from some websites faster than they move that of others.
