fcc

Twenty-two state attorneys general have filed a lawsuit challenging the decision of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to repeal net neutrality rules.

New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman on Tuesday leda coalition of Attorneys General in filing a multistate lawsuit to block the FCC’s “illegal rollback of net neutrality.”

The coalition filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, formally commencing the lawsuit against the FCC and the federal government.

“An open internet – and the free exchange of ideas it allows – is critical to our democratic process,” said Schneiderman.

“The repeal of net neutrality would turn internet service providers into gatekeepers – allowing them to put profits over consumers while controlling what we see, what we do, and what we say online. This would be a disaster for New York consumers and businesses, and for everyone who cares about a free and open internet.”

The repeal of net neutrality would have dire consequences for consumers and businesses in New York and across the country that rely on a free and open internet – allowing internet service providers to block certain content, charge consumers more to access certain sites, and throttle or slow the quality of content from content providers that don’t pay more, said Schneiderman.

The FCC voted in December along party lines to reverse rules introduced in 2015 that barred internet service providers from blocking or throttling traffic or offering paid fast lanes, also known as paid prioritization.

Internet advocacy group Free Press, the Open Technology Institute and Mozilla Corp filed similar protective petitions on Tuesday.

The new rules will not take effect for at least three months, according to the FCC.

Joining Schneiderman in the lawsuit are Attorneys General of New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia.