New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has followed the footsteps of Montana Governor Steve Bullock by signing an executive order for net neutrality. Today, Governor Cuomo signed an executive order requiring any internet service provider with a sate contract must honor the principles of net neutrality (via The Verge).
In a statement, the governor said, “With this executive order, we reaffirm our commitment to freedom and democracy and help ensure that the internet remains free and open to all.”
Per the executive order, starting March 1st, all ISPs entering or renewed get a government contract will be required to sign a binding agreement that will ensure they will uphold the ideals of net neutrality and will not throttle, block or prioritize internet content. If companies don’t sign the binding agreement, they will not be granted a government contract.
Previously, Montana Governor Steve Bullock signed an executive order and was the first to do such action. The FCC’s net neutrality repeal specifically stated that states could not override FCC’s regulations with their own legislation, but since these aren’t exactly laws requiring ISPs to adhere to net neutrality principles and are regulations that block ISPs from government contracts if they block or throttle traffic, these executive orders are working around a legal loophole.
