WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced June 20 that he has joined a bipartisan coalition of 35 state attorneys general opposing a petition by cable and telecom industry groups to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The petitioners seek to stop states from enforcing false advertising laws that relate to Internet speeds.
“Regardless of party, state attorneys general have a responsibility to ensure that no business takes advantage of our residents, including Internet service providers,” Racine said. “When it comes to states being able to protect consumers, there shouldn’t be an exception for the telecom industry—and we believe the FCC should not bow to industry pressure to create one.”
The bipartisan coalition seeks to protect consumers’ ability to actually get the Internet speeds they pay for. The coalition submitted a comment to the FCC and said states have a major role in protecting broadband consumers.
“As the chief law enforcement officers of our respective states, we understand the vital importance of protecting consumers against unfair and deceptive business practices—including those of broadband providers," the coalition wrote. "Like others providing goods and services to consumers in our states, providers of broadband Internet service must be truthful in their advertisements. Broadband access is an essential aspect of our constituents’ work, life and play.”
Joining in the coalition are Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington state, West Virginia and Wisconsin.