New York governor signs executive order imposing in-state net neutrality News
New York governor signs executive order imposing in-state net neutrality

[JURIST] New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday signed an executive order [text, PDF] mandating internet providers comply with net neutrality.

The order makes New York the second state after Montana [JURIST report] to update their procurement procedures to require that internet service providers comply with net neutrality standards. It states that “internet is an essential service that should be available to all New Yorkers,” and highlights the importance of “a free and open internet” to parties such as businesses, students, and government.

This change comes after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) [official website] repealed net neutrality [JURIST report] in December. Since then, 22 state attorneys general and non-profits have challenged the repeal [JURIST report]. Additionally, multiple other governors and legislatures are also considering bills or executive orders [EP report] related to net neutrality.

Currently, the FCC has not commented on the actions [NYT report] or indicated how it plans to respond to state actions like those of New York and Montana.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Georgia became first US state to ban lynching

On December 20, 1893, Georgia became the first state in the Union to pass a law against lynching, making the act punishable by four years in prison. The statute was not particularly effective—read the text of the 1899 pamphlet Lynch Law in Georgia by anti-lynching activist Ida Wells-Barnett.