Sen. Latz Renews Push for Net Neutrality

Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, is pushing legislation that would take steps to restore net neutrality for Minnesota.

Net neutrality prevented internet service providers from treating some internet traffic differently than others. Advocates for net neutrality say it prevents abuses by service providers, but the FCC eliminated it last year. Advocates say that means service providers could stop their customers from accessing data on the internet that the service providers don’t like.

Latz says that situation can’t be allowed to happen, at least not here in Minnesota.

“This is quintessentially a consumer protection bill,” says Latz. “Everyone who’s an internet consumer ought to have free and unfettered access to the internet.”

Latz’s bill, SF-317, would prohibit service providers from blocking or slowing internet traffic on the basis of its content. Similar bills he’s backed in the past have been blocked by Republican opponents.