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RES- 2018 -043 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE <br />PRESERVATION OF FEDERAL RULES AND <br />POLICIES PROTECTING NET NEUTRALITY <br />WHEREAS, Orange County is a hub of high -tech invention and development of <br />technology companies; and <br />WHEREAS, Orange County is a critical vertex of the Research Triangle; and <br />WHEREAS, Orange County is also home to 150,000 residents who rely on the <br />County to provide essential services such as law enforcement, healthcare, education, <br />assistance for youth and the elderly, and social services; and <br />WHEREAS, established County programs, services, and information require <br />affordable, accessible, and open internet access for the benefit of County residents; and <br />WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission adopted Net Neutrality rules <br />in its 2015 Report and Order In the Mutter of Protecting and .Promoting the Open Internet, <br />WC Docket No. 14 -281 to protect consumers from past and future tactics that threaten the <br />open internet by banning three damaging practices: blocking, throttling, and paid <br />prioritization; and <br />WHEREAS, in its 2015 Report and Order, the Federal Communications Commission <br />reaffirmed its 2010 Transparency rule to ensure that consumers are fully informed about the <br />internet access they are purchasing; and <br />WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission, through its actions on <br />December 14, 2017 in WC Docket No. 17 -108; eliminated the principle of Net Neutrality; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, the preservation of Net Neutrality is necessary for the prosperity of <br />the Orange County local economy, including but not limited to startup technology <br />companies, rural businesses, and entrepreneurs; and <br />WHEREAS, Net Neutrality encourages competition among businesses, fosters <br />innovation, creates jobs, and promotes economic vitality both within Orange County and <br />across the nation; and <br />WHEREAS, open internet provides residents the opportunity to search for gainful <br />employment, participate in free web -based job training programs, and learn new skills <br />through online education courses; and <br />WHEREAS, public safety, emergency services, education, and healthcare services <br />all rely on the availability of broadband internet service free from the plagues of throttling, <br />blocking, and paid prioritization; and <br />