Montana and New York governors issue executive orders supporting net neutrality

In the USA, the governors or Montana and New York have announced they have signed executive orders supporting net neutrality at state level. The orders require service providers with state contracts to abide by net neutrality rules. In Montana, any service provider wishing to receive a state contract after 1 July 2018 will be required to follow key net neutrality rules and agree not to block or degrade content, or allow for paid prioritisation plans. In New York, the executive order will require any service provider receiving or renewing a contract after 1 March 2018 to sign an agreement that they will adhere to net neutrality principles. It is likely that the two orders will be challenged in court if the Restoring Internet Freedom order adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in December 2017 enters into force. This is because the FCC order contains a provision preventing states from adopting net neutrality rules.