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Maine Is First State in Nation to Pass Net Neutrality Resolve

By Jon Bartholomew
Posted on Tue Jun 12, 2007 at 03:06:12 PM EST

I am pleased to report that Maine, whose motto is "Dirigo" which is  Latin for "I lead", is now the first state in the nation to make a strong stand in support of net neutrality!

Today the Maine State Senate gave final passage to a resolve that first states how important the issue of net neutrality is to Maine consumers, democracy and the economy, then directs the State Office of the Public Advocate to study whether or not Maine has legal jurisdiction to pass net neutrality protections and to analyze the impact the issue has on Mainers.

We at Common Cause worked hard on this issue over the last few months with some terrific allies. The MCLU did a huge amount of work on this bill, so I want to single them out for thanks. In addition, we could not have done this without support from the Community Television Association of Maine, the League of Young Voters, Lance Dutson, Fletcher Kittredge, MoveOn.org and the SaveTheInternet.com coalition. Plus there are many others who did their part by sending messages to legislators, providing testimony, and just getting the word out about this measure.

This sends a message to Congress that people really do care about net neutrality, and it is time for Congress to take action!

You can find the full text of the resolution here.


Tags: net neutrality, Maine, internet, media reform, in the states, media and democracy (all tags)


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Maine Is First State in Nation to Pass Net Neutrality Resolve :: 2 Comments

meaningless

This is nice, but it doesn't get you anything.  Net neutrality is a FEDERAL issue not state.  States can't enforce jack on the internet.  Net neutrlaity has to be a national policy made by a federal body.  

Common Cause should not have wasted it's time supporting a bill that is symbolism at best.

p.s. Can't wait to see what that "study" finds.  DId you not read what the MD Attorney General found?  State level net neutrality would be UNCONSTITUTIONAL.  You need to target your efforts at FCC/Congress.

by pat on Wed Jun 13, 2007 at 07:29:19 PM EST


not so fast, Pat

First of all, lots of things are said to be just federal jurisdiction that the courts later say states can do. Case in point, Maine's prescription drug price control law, Maine Rx. The same argument was made for that, but we won.

Second, it is a very powerful political statement for a state legislature to say that this is an important issue to its citizens.

It influences the debate in Congress, so that alone is worth the effort.

by Jon Bartholomew on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 10:01:37 AM EST
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