Fast Company

Washington State has passed sweeping legislation to regulate internet access for its residents. The bill cleared the state senate on a 35-to-14 vote, with bipartisan support. It had already blown through the house of representatives by 93-to-5 on February 9, and Gov Jay Inslee (D-WA) is on record as ready to sign it. Washington’s law applies to all Internet service providers that serve residents, whether or not they have state deals. All internet service offered in Washington would have to be free from blocking or throttling of legal online content.

After the Federal Communications Commission and the US Congress scrapped federal regulations protecting both network neutrality and privacy for Internet service provider customers, several states started working on their own safeguards. With broad support from the governor, attorney general, and legislators of both parties, Washington State has been one of the most aggressive. That could make it a test case not only for telecom policy but for the country’s perennial power struggle between federal and state governments.