FCC President Ajit Pai says California's network neutrality rules are "illegal"

California's efforts to establish its own network neutrality rules are "illegal," said the head of the country's largest communications regulator.

"Microgestion in California poses a risk to the rest of the country," said Friday the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, at the Maine Heritage Policy Center. "After all, broadband is an interstate service, Internet traffic does not recognize the borders of the state, and it follows that only the federal government can set a regulatory policy in this area."

Last month, the Communications and Transportation Commission of the Assembly of the State of California voted to go ahead with the Senate bill 822, which offers strong protection against network neutrality. In his speech, Pai called it a "radical and anti-consumer" bill.

Senator Scott Wiener, a California Democrat, quickly responded to Pai's remarks.

"The SB 822 is necessary and legal because President Pai has waived his responsibility to guarantee an open internet," Wiener said in a statement. "Since the FCC says that it no longer has any authority to protect an open internet, it is also true that the FCC does not have the legal authority to prevent states from protecting their privacy." residents and their economy. "

Wiener added that when Verizon strangled data for firefighters fighting California forest firesPai "said nothing and did nothing, this silence says much more than his words today."

Network neutrality, or the idea that all Internet traffic should be treated equally, has been heavily debated in recent years. Consumers, technology companies and Democrats have called for stricter regulations prohibiting traffic prioritization.

Under the Obama administration, the FCC has established rules to protect network neutrality. But the current FCC, which stands on the side of Internet service providers and Republicans who say the regulation is too cumbersome and undermines capital investment, canceled the rules in June. In response, states such as California have sought to adopt their own network neutrality rules.

The rules proposed by California are considered more stringent than the rules of the Obama era. The California bill is awaiting the approval of Gov. Jerry Brown.

According to Pai, if Brown signed the law, "this would prevent California consumers from buying many free data plans, which allow consumers to stream video, music and other data without limit." Particularly among low-income Americans, but Californian legislators of nanny states apparently want to prohibit their electors from having that choice, they have met the enemy and the data is free. "

Wiener reprimanded Pai's comments.

"The SB 822 is supported by a broad coalition of consumer groups, low-income advocacy groups, small and medium-sized technology companies, unions and President Obama's President Tom Wheeler," said Wiener. "I will take this support on Ajit Pai no matter what day of the week."