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<br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 19, 2018 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-e <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting Net Neutrality <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: Information Technologies <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Net Neutrality Resolution <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Jim Northrup, Chief Information Officer, <br />919-245-2276 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To consider a resolution calling upon the United States Congress and President <br />Donald Trump to approve and sign legislation to fully restore Net Neutrality. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: In 1996, Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which <br />defines two categories of entities: (1) telecommunications carriers, which provide the equivalent <br />of basic services; and (2) information-service providers, which provide the equivalent of <br />enhanced services. The Act subjects telecommunications carriers, but not information-service <br />providers, to Title II common carrier regulation. <br /> <br />In March 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) issued a Report and Order In <br />the Matter of Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet, WC Docket No. 14-28. In this Order, <br />the FCC applied “open internet rules,” commonly known as Net Neutrality rules, to broadband <br />internet providers. The 2015 Order classified broadband internet access service as a <br />telecommunications service subject to the FCC’s regulatory authority under Title II of the <br />Communications Act, regardless of the technological platform over which the service is offered. <br />The 2015 Order also established “bright line rules” to protect consumers from past and future <br />tactics that threaten the open internet by banning three damaging practices: blocking, throttling, <br />and paid prioritization. Also in the 2015 Report and Order, the FCC reaffirmed its 2010 <br />Transparency rule to ensure that consumers are fully informed about the internet access they <br />purchase. <br /> <br />Federal Communications Commission, through its actions on December 14, 2017 in WC <br />Docket No. 17-108; eliminated the principle of Net Neutrality. <br /> <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: While this resolution will not have an immediate fiscal impact on Orange <br />County Government, the preservation of Net Neutrality is necessary for the prosperity of the <br />Orange County local economy, including but not limited to startup technology companies, rural <br />businesses, and entrepreneurs. Net Neutrality encourages competition among businesses, <br />fosters innovation, creates jobs, and promotes economic vitality both within Orange County and <br />across the nation. <br />1