Montclair deputy mayor seeks net neutrality rules

Montclair Deputy Mayor Sean Spiller on Tuesday introduced a resolution that would concur with an executive order signed by Gov. Phil Murphy earlier this year that sought to block internet service providers from throttling New Jerseyans’ internet connections and blocking content on the internet.

Net neutrality rules were repealed by the Federal Communications Commission on June 11, opening the door for practices like throttling and paid prioritization.

Murphy’s executive order requires that the state government contract only with ISPs that follow the so-called net neutrality principles.

The Montclair resolution would do the same.

“Without the protections of net neutrality, customers will be subject to the unfettered greed of corporate Internet service providers who will be free to charge exorbitant fees, filter content and block access from users,” Spiller said. “We can’t let the Internet be held hostage.”