ISPs must follow net neutrality in New Jersey, governor declares

Enlarge / New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. (credit: State of New Jersey)

New Jersey is enforcing net neutrality with a new executive order that requires ISPs to follow neutrality rules if they sell Internet service to state agencies.

The executive order announced today by Governor Phil Murphy is similar to ones previously signed by the governors of New York and Montana. States are taking action because the Federal Communications Commission repealed federal net neutrality rules.

The executive order says that New Jersey state agencies may only buy Internet service from ISPs that adhere to net neutrality principles. But the net neutrality protections will cover ordinary residents as well as government officials. That's because the order says that "adherence to 'net neutrality' principles means that an ISP shall not [violate the rules] with respect to any consumers in New Jersey (including but not limited to State entities)."

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