Vermont House Members Question State's Broadband Oversight Authority
The Vermont House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure raised the question Wednesday of how much of the Vermont Broadband Consumer Protection and Competition Act would potentially be preempted by federal law. The topic was discussed during a committee hearing on HB-11, which was introduced last year (see 2501160049). Because so much online activity is interstate, it’s not clear what oversight authority is left for states, said Maria Royle, a lawyer with the state Office of Legislative Counsel.
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Along with establishing net neutrality rules for all ISPs operating in Vermont, the bill would require providers to reimburse consumers for installation costs if they discontinue a service because it didn't achieve claimed performance. It would also bar excessive termination fees for service, as well as data caps, "except when tailored for the purpose of reasonable network management, such as managing network congestion."