Bill > LD536

This bill establishes net neutrality regulations for internet service providers (ISPs) in Maine by requiring them to provide net neutral service when offering broadband internet access. The bill defines several key terms, including "net neutral service," which essentially means ISPs cannot discriminate against or prioritize certain types of internet traffic. Specifically, ISPs are prohibited from practices like paid prioritization (charging for faster access to certain content) and throttling (intentionally slowing down internet speeds for specific types of content or services). The legislation allows ISPs to engage in "reasonable network management practices" that are technically justified and applied non-discriminatorily, such as managing network capacity. The bill also permits ISPs to address copyright infringement, comply with emergency communications and law enforcement needs, and offer different service plans (with varying speeds or data limits) as long as these are applied non-discriminatorily. Violations of these net neutrality requirements would be considered violations of the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act, though private individuals cannot bring individual lawsuits based on these violations. The goal of the bill is to ensure fair and equal access to internet content and services for Maine residents.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=536&snum=132