The state Attorney General’s Office says it is “reviewing its options” following the Federal Communications Commission’s vote Thursday to repeal ‘net neutrality’ rules.
In a written statement, Attorney General Doug Chin said that includes potentially joining other states in a lawsuit.
The FCC voted 3-2 to repeal rules preventing internet providers from restricting access to websites, either by slowing connection speeds or charging tiered rates for content. The decision also prohibits states from enacting their own regulations.
Critics fear that will lead to the end of an open internet with users no longer having the same access to content. Members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation blasted the decision.
“(Internet service providers) are now free to block apps, slow websites, or even limit access to certain kinds of content,” Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat, said in a statement. “The best way to move forward is to turn our tweets and our comments into action.”
Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in another press release called it a “slap in the face to our democracy.”
“Congress must take action to reverse this decision, and ensure that the internet remains an open, level playing field for all,” she said.
The FCC enacted net neutrality rules in 2015 to ensure consumers have access to web content at the same quality and speed. The regulations were intended to prevent companies from playing favorites to websites based on a financial interest.
Major service providers opposed to the regulations saw them as overreaching and argued they harmed investment and innovation. They said the internet would remain essentially unchanged without them.
In a statement, Charter Communications, which owns Spectrum, an internet service provider on Hawaii Island, said the company has “no plans to change our practices.”
“Charter supports an open internet because we believe delivering superior broadband to our customers is an essential ingredient to growing our business,” the company said. “… We don’t slow down, block, or discriminate against lawful content.”
Charter Communications submitted comments to the FCC in favor of repealing net neutrality.
In 2015, following enactment of net neutrality rules, Charter Communications Chief Executive Tom Rutledge told the FCC that the regulations had not affected how it invests in its network, according to Reuters.
Hawaiian Telcom said it does not “throttle or block internet traffic and has no paid prioritization practices. This will remain our practice.”
Citing experts, an article published by Consumer Reports says erosion of net neutrality would likely happen incrementally and could be hard to notice at first.
Impacts could include price hikes through access fees imposed on larger internet companies that are passed on to consumers, introduction of tiered plans that provide different levels of access, blocking of some content, and changes to data plans, the article said. Startups may also have a harder time expanding and finding an audience, it said.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.