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Hansen-Herod bill protects taxpayer dollars
(May 17) – Gov. Jared Polis will sign a bill today to protect net neutrality and safeguard taxpayer dollars in Colorado. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Chris Hansen and Rep. Leslie Herod.
“This new law will protect taxpayer dollars from being used to support throttled or blocked internet service. It will serve as an important tool to ensure the internet remains open for small businesses, innovators and consumers,” said Rep. Hansen, D-Denver. “With
Republicans in Congress rolling back net neutrality protections, it’s on states like Colorado stand up and fight back.”
“The internet is an indispensable part of our lives and it’s time that we step up to protect it,” Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, said when the bill passed the House in April. “I thank my colleagues for their support and we will continue working to ensure the internet remains open and accessible for all.”
The Senate sponsors are Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail and Rep. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village.
SB19-078 would ensure that:
companies that receive assistance to expand rural broadband provide net-neutral service;
state contracting gives preference to internet service providers that deliver net neutrality; and
consumers know how to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission to allege that an Internet Service Provider (ISP) has interfered with the open internet.
Not a single House or Senate Republican voted to safeguard taxpayer dollars and protect net neutrality.
The Trump administration recently rolled back Obama-era rules ensuring a free and open internet. Washington, Montana and Oregon have passed legislation or taken other steps to protect net neutrality.
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