ACLU Supports Muni Broadband to Protect Privacy, Net Neutrality
Local governments can protect consumers online with municipal broadband networks, the American Civil Liberties Union said Thursday, releasing a report on benefits of public internet projects. With the Republican-led FCC rescinding net neutrality and ISP privacy rules, “Americans need an…
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internet provider that they can trust and is accountable to the public, not profits,” ACLU said. “Municipal governments can provide this by offering broadband service themselves and implementing the net neutrality and privacy protections that are no longer required of private companies by federal policies.” Municipal broadband often provides faster and cheaper service than private networks, ACLU added. Local governments with public broadband networks “should make sure that access is consistent with free speech values and respects net neutrality principles,” ACLU said. “That means enacting strict anti-censorship rules and establishing clear oversight processes to enforce these principles.”