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HELENA -- Montana's governor on Monday signed an executive order that will require all internet and data providers to adhere to net neutrality principles if they want to be awarded state contracts.

Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, signed the order in front of a computer science class at Helena High.

"When the FCC repealed its net neutrality rules, it said consumers should choose. The state of Montana is one of the biggest consumers of internet services in our state. Today we're making our choice clear: We want net neutrality," Bullock told the class.

Net neutrality is the principle that internet services providers must treat all data online the same and not charge more for access to certain sites or adjust the speed at which content is delivered based on what consumers pay. Last year the Federal Communications Commission reversed net neutrality rules put in place in 2015 under the Obama administration, arguing the move would spur innovation and the economy.

Montana's Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte, who both worked at the tech company RightNow Technologies in Bozeman, supported the change, while U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, opposed it.