ISPs Ask Justice Department To Sue States Over Low-Income Broadband Mandates After Court Losses (arstechnica.com)
- Reference: 0177871447
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/05/30/1854205/isps-ask-justice-department-to-sue-states-over-low-income-broadband-mandates-after-court-losses
- Source link: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/05/isps-urge-trump-admin-to-sue-states-that-require-cheaper-broadband-plans/
The industry groups suffered a significant legal defeat when the Supreme Court [3]refused to hear their challenge to [4]New York's affordability mandate in December 2024 , after losing in federal appeals court. Now they face a potential wave of similar legislation, with California proposing $15 plans offering 100 Mbps speeds and ten other states considering comparable requirements.
[1] https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/05/isps-urge-trump-admin-to-sue-states-that-require-cheaper-broadband-plans/
[2] https://www.regulations.gov/comment/ATR-2025-0001-0333
[3] https://yro.slashdot.org/story/24/12/17/1918225/big-loss-for-isps-as-supreme-court-wont-hear-challenge-to-15-broadband-law
[4] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/24/08/15/1944226/isps-ask-supreme-court-to-kill-new-york-law-that-requires-15-broadband-plans
and if they do so much for (Score:4, Insightful)
the party of states rights!
Re: (Score:2)
They haven't been the party of state's rights since at least the 1950's. That was just a PR tag, and they'll continue to use it as a dog whistle.
Re: and if they do so much for (Score:2)
The Fugitive Slave Act also commandeered free state law enforcement. States' Rights was never more than a fig leaf for people who liked strange fruit.
Re: (Score:2)
The gop has been fascist for a while. Republican strongholds, Nebraska and Oklahoma sued Colorado for having legal marijuana. They wanted to make it illegal. If you cant understand how far gone those states are, it is a great example.
Re: (Score:2)
And Texas just completely banned THC despite over 60% of residents wanting it to be legal for recreational use, because governor Sitler wants Texas to be a nanny-state.
Re: and if they do so much for (Score:2)
Then sue them
Re: (Score:1)
Around here... Astound laid all the fiber backbones and interconnects, then good ol' Charter bought them out for a steal and became the only cable show in town
Alternative strategy (Score:1)
Just have the administration declare everyone to be above average, and no one would qualify for assistance?
Re: (Score:2)
You joke but someday in the next 6 months some ghoul like Stephen Miller is going to pop into the Oval, gasping form running, catch his breath and say "let's set the Federal poverty level to $1"
Re: (Score:2)
> You joke but someday in the next 6 months some ghoul like Stephen Miller is going to pop into the Oval, gasping form running, catch his breath and say "let's set the Federal poverty level to $1"
As I recall, HHS sets the poverty level threshold, so it is technically within the control of this administration. But as it would hurt "his people" more than most, that probably won't happen. Maybe.
El Salvador (Score:2)
If Trump wants to kidnap people to El Salvador then the broadband lobbyists should be next. The highest court of the land said no and now they're crying to daddy Trump to make it better.
Re: El Salvador (Score:2)
They didn't say anything, they simply declined to hear it. Typically they only choose to do so when lower courts in different sovereignties have made different interpretations of the same laws. Besides, they're not the ultimate decider of laws, they only interpret their meaning. It's still up to the executive to enforce them if they choose, and still up to the legislature whether they write new ones or revise old ones.
Hangar (Score:2)
How many fucking jets does one man need?
Re: Hangar (Score:2)
Tds
Re: (Score:2)
Joe Biden is looking pretty good now. Everything was so much cheaper under him. Also, foreign dictators didn't need to buy him any planes.
It would be one thing if... (Score:2)
It would be one thing if the ISPs were taking what they made, investing in infrastructure, expanding coverage, improving capacity and speeds...
But these assholes are only upset because they can't make as much year end bonus bucks...
Re: (Score:2)
Aren't you too busy sucking trump's cock to post on here?
Once again... (Score:2)
These ISPs are continuing with their extremely jealous and bitter attempt to protect their profits.
as long as any money from state and fed stops (Score:3)
As long as any money from state and fed stops flowing to them in various initiatives. They don't do these programs out of their own pockets.... they get massive subsidies and handouts & are still making money, just not as much off of these customers.
Cheap and fast internet is the 2nd biggest driver of economic growth... after cheap and plentiful electricity.
I wish North America was more like Europe and Asia in the ability to focus on what is actually important and not get derailed by petty greed from a few asshats that undermine the entire fucken nations interests to make a few bucks.
I mean, a few execs or investors make a few million.. collectively, we lose billions in fucken growth AND pay more than most in the developed world for less.
Makes sense (Score:2)
The Trump regime has hijacked the DOJ and we all know the Trump regime hates poor people. In fact, its Big Beautiful Bill is nothing less than a massive redistribution of wealth from the poor to the rich.
Competition (Score:2)
I have access to three wired ISP's at the curb of my house and the competition is fierce. They will offer an 'introductory' price for a year and then quietly jack it up about 50% hoping I don't notice. If I call up and complain they may reduce it. But last year my current provider foolishly refused.
The level of service is about the same amongst them and there is no contract. I can just rotate around if I want, so I switched. This resulted in a flurry of offers by email and eventually a call from a salespers
You can do that? (Score:2)
I mean is there like a menu with prices? I know there is for the presidential pardons but I didn't know about the lawsuits you could order.
What a C@nt move.. (Score:1)
wow - what D!cks.
Nope (Score:2)
I would side with the ISPs if all the federal tax payer money they have received through promises of building out the infrastructure over the last 20+ years were actually done. That money was pocketed while rates skyrocketed. I hope ALL states enact this sort of legislature so tax payers can recoup at least some of the money that was stolen.
So much for the poors (Score:2)
Cut off the weather service cut of FEMA cut of the Internet. Ah well.
I hope.... (Score:2)
That the justice department sues the ISPs over this and tacks on an extra fee for wasting their time.
Re: (Score:3)
> That the justice department sues the ISPs over this and tacks on an extra fee for wasting their time.
Only if the states get together and suitably 'compensate' the guy behind the resolute desk.
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One "Executive Order" coming right up! No need to bother with courts and laws... King Trump rules by decree.
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Personally I don't think the ISP's would even bother asking any other administration to do such a thing after losing in court so much but I imagine they know this admin is able to be coerced quite easily.
It's all the scapegoats the admin loves; Regulations in blue states, "overreach" by the Judicial branch and since it's about low income families that means one thing baby, DEI and there's no such thing as poor white people. Let's go and sue the states!
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justice department is a play toy/enforcement wing for populist trump agenda these days... if this hits fox news, then they'll sue the states...
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I suggest the states update the law so that broadband providers are required to offer a basic $20 broadband plan providing 24x7 usage and no data cap less than 80GB per day to ALL customers - not just people meeting eligibility criteria. Of course most people would not enthusiastically pick the $20 tier the providers have already setup to comply with those laws, since the datarate is so low.