A state Senate committee is recommending that Massachusetts implement a state-level net neutrality policy, in response to the federal government rolling back federal net neutrality rules.

The Senate report also recommends that Massachusetts do a better job ensuring consumers' privacy while using the internet.

"We must fill in the gap left by the federal government in the areas of net neutrality and consumers' broadband privacy," said Sen. Cynthia Creem, D-Newton, chairwoman of the Senate Special Committee on Net Neutrality and Consumer Protection.

Net neutrality is the concept that an internet service provider must treat all internet content the same -- and cannot block or slow down particular content or websites. The Federal Communication Commission adopted net neutrality rules in 2015 but overturned them in 2017, under the new chairman, Ajit Pai, who was appointed by President Donald Trump. A group of state attorneys general, including Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, are challenging the repeal.

Congress and Trump also overturned 2016 rules related to internet privacy, which regulated how internet service providers can use customers' private information.

The seven-member state Senate committee was formed to examine the implications of these decisions.

The committee wrote in its report, "The Committee finds that the FCC repeal of net neutrality protections opens the door to network management practices that could harm consumer choice, technological innovation and the free flow of information on the internet."

State-level net neutrality bills have been proposed in 27 states, including Massachusetts. Several bills have also been proposed in Massachusetts prohibiting internet service providers from disseminating customers' personal information.

The committee is proposing legislation that would protect consumers from "blocking, throttling, or paid prioritization in the provision of internet service." It would create a registry for internet service providers and require the companies to be transparent about their network management policies. The bill would prohibit internet service providers "from collecting, using or disseminating consumers' personal data without their consent."

Additional costs would be paid for by a fee paid by the internet service providers.

Any action by the state is likely to bring up legal issues regarding whether federal law preempts state action. The committee wrote that it believes the proposed state legislation would withstand a legal challenge.

Senate President Harriette Chandler, D-Worcester, said in a statement that the proposed legislation "is the first step in ensuring that consumers maintain their rights and privacies."

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, the committee vice-chairman, said, "Effective internet access is essential for all of us, and we need to ensure that practices like throttling and blocking aren't used in Massachusetts to disrupt that access and compromise the fairness we should expect from service providers."

The Senate committee will hold a public hearing on the proposal Wednesday at the Statehouse. The bill will need to pass the Senate and House and be signed by Gov. Charlie Baker before it becomes law.