Bill Text: HI SB253 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Broadband Service.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-03-07 - Referred to IAC, CPC, LMG, FIN, referral sheet 27 [SB253 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2019-SB253-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
253 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to broadband service.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that it is essential to ensure that people can access websites and information freely and fairly over the Internet, which provides worldwide communication and a platform for a global marketplace where even the smallest businesses can participate. In 2015, the Federal Communications Commission adopted strong rules and regulations to protect internet users, as all content over the internet was treated equally and without preferential treatment. However, the more recent Federal Communications Commission's ruling to repeal net neutrality deregulates the internet service industry, jeopardizing the future of access to websites and information and creating an environment that could allow internet service providers the opportunity to limit or prioritize certain access to information at their discretion.
The purpose of this Act is to ensure that the Internet remains free and open in the State by:
(1) Requiring providers of broadband internet access services to be transparent with network management practices, performance, and commercial terms of its broadband internet access services; and
(2) Prohibiting providers of broadband internet access services from:
(A) Blocking lawful websites;
(B) Impairing or degrading lawful internet traffic;
(C) Engaging in paid prioritization; or
(D) Unreasonably interfering with or unreasonably disadvantaging users of broadband internet access services.
SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"CHAPTER
BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE
§ -1 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
"Broadband internet access
service" means a mass-market retail service, including any service that
the Federal Communications Commission finds to be functionally equivalent, by
wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data
from all or substantially all internet endpoints, including any capabilities
that are incidental to and enable the operation of the communications service,
but excluding dial-up internet access service.
"Edge provider" means any
individual or entity that provides any content, application, or service over
the Internet, and any individual or entity that provides a device used for
accessing any content, application, or service over the Internet.
"End user" means any individual
or entity that uses a broadband internet access service.
"Mobile broadband internet access
service" means a broadband internet access service that serves end users
primarily using mobile stations.
"Paid prioritization" means the
management of a broadband provider's network to directly or indirectly favor
some traffic over other traffic, including through the use of techniques such
as traffic shaping, prioritization, resource reservation, or other forms of
preferential traffic management, either:
(1) In exchange for consideration, monetary or otherwise, from a third party; or
(2) To benefit an affiliated entity.
"Reasonable network management" means a practice that has a primarily technical network management justification, but does not include other business practices. A network management practice is reasonable if it is primarily used for and tailored to achieving a legitimate network management purpose, taking into account the particular network architecture and technology of the broadband internet access service.
§ -2 Broadband internet access service;
disclosure; protections. (a) A
person engaged in the provision of broadband internet access service in the
State shall publicly disclose accurate information regarding the network
management practices, performance, and commercial terms of its broadband
internet access services sufficient for consumers to make informed choices
regarding use of such services and for content, application, service, and
device providers to develop, market, and maintain internet offerings.
(b)
A person engaged in the provision of broadband internet access service
in the State, insofar as such a person is so engaged, shall not:
(1) Block lawful content, applications, services, or nonharmful devices, subject to reasonable network management;
(2) Impair or degrade lawful internet traffic on the basis of internet content, application, or service, or use of a nonharmful device, subject to reasonable network management;
(3) Engage in paid prioritization; or
(4) Unreasonably interfere with or unreasonably disadvantage:
(A) End users' ability to select, access, and use broadband internet access service or the lawful internet content, applications, services, or devices of their choice; or
(B) Edge providers' ability to make lawful content, applications, services, or devices available to end users;
provided that the prohibition on paid prioritization pursuant to paragraph (3) may be permitted if a petitioner demonstrates that the practice would provide some significant public interest benefit and would not harm the open nature of the Internet in the State."
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Broadband Internet Access Service; Protections; Net Neutrality
Description:
Requires a provider of broadband internet access services to be transparent. Prohibits a provider of these services from blocking lawful websites, impairing or degrading lawful internet traffic, engaging in paid prioritization, or interfering with or disadvantaging users of broadband internet access services.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
