Defiance on ‘Net Neutrality’: Montana Governor Goes to Helena High School to Declare State’s Break With FCC Mandate
At the computer science class in Helena High School, Monday morning started off like any other typical school week. However, the students were in for a surprise when Montana Governor Steve Bullock walked into the classroom and gave them an unexpected civics lesson.
A month after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rolled back the Obama-era "net neutrality" regulations that were meant to protect online consumers, Governor Bullock took a stand by issuing an executive order. Despite being a Democratic governor in a state that heavily supported Trump in the 2016 elections, Bullock made Montana the first state to defy the new federal rules and require all internet contracts to adhere to net neutrality principles. Other states have also proposed similar legislation, and 20 state attorneys general have taken legal action against the FCC’s decision.
However, Montana faces a challenge as the FCC has stated that states cannot establish their own regulations. Bullock’s order may face legal opposition.
Among the students in the classroom were future coders and software engineers, including Bryndon Wilkerson, the student body president who aspires to pursue a career in computer science. She emphasized the importance of net neutrality in ensuring that all students have equal access to the necessary resources for receiving the best education possible.
Governor Bullock chose to announce the executive order at Helena High, his alma mater where his children currently attend school, in response to concerns raised by education advocates about how the repeal of net neutrality could impact classrooms, particularly in rural areas.
"The loss of net neutrality principles jeopardizes the future of the students in this room," Bullock stated during the announcement. "When the FCC repealed net neutrality, it gave consumers a choice. The Montana government is one of the largest consumers of internet services in our state. Today, we are making our choice clear: we want net neutrality."
Adopted by the FCC in 2015, net neutrality required internet service providers to treat all web traffic equally. However, in December, the FCC voted 3-2 along party lines to repeal these rules, a decision celebrated by Republicans who view it as a win for the free market. Democrats, on the other hand, warn that the repeal could lead to an internet system where customers have to pay extra to access certain content.
Wilkerson, the student body president, explained how this could personally affect her. For instance, in her calculus class, she relies on online homework outside of class to focus on learning materials during the actual class. Without net neutrality protections, internet service providers could potentially slow down access to her calculus website.
Governor Bullock’s executive order states that internet providers in Montana must agree to not block or slow down internet traffic or create payment plans that restrict access to specific online content in order to be eligible for a contract with the state. The order underlines the importance of a free and open exchange of information through the internet for modern social, commercial, and civic life.
While the impact on teenagers became the main focus of Bullock’s announcement, one student at Helena High had a significant influence on his decision: his own daughter. According to Buffy Smith, the computer science teacher at Helena High, the governor’s daughter questioned if there was anything he could do about the repeal instead of passively accepting it. Smith stated that Bullock chose to sign the order in her classroom due to the repercussions it has on young people.
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