ACROSS OREGON - From Oregonians for Net Neutrality: Supporters of net neutrality have filed an initiative petition with the Oregon Secretary of State. The petition would require internet service providers practice net neutrality in Oregon, meaning they cannot discriminate against types or sources of data when providing access to consumers.

Recently, the Federal Communications Commission opted to eliminate those rules at the national level. The measure is backed by a bipartisan group of tech professionals and policymakers: Rich Bader, who recently retired as one of Portland's longest-serving tech CEOs, will serve as the group's Treasurer.

Chief Petitioners are Rachel Novick, owner and manager of Novick Analytics, former West Linn City Councilor Thomas Frank, and former State Representative Chris Harker. "The principle that ideas and data should be accessible to people on a level playing field is a critical part of Oregon's commerce, to say nothing of its impacts on free expression and independent thinking." said, co-chief petitioner Rachel Novick.

Although the FCC has indicated its opposition to such state regulations, the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 explicitly allows states to adopt regulations to "ensure the continued quality of telecommunications services, and safeguard the rights of consumers." "If the FCC is not going to protect consumers, the State of Oregon is ready and explicitly permitted by law to do so," said co-chief petitioner Chris Harker. "This is not drastic policy."

The initiative would simply enact a version of the FCC's past net neutrality rules into Oregon law. Providers would still be able to charge customers, but they would not be able to charge different rates based on the content users were browsing.

Internet service providers had already been complying with these Net Neutrality rules during the Obama Administration.

"This is not a partisan issue," said Thomas Frank. "Fair access to information, to learning, to commerce, is something that affects all Oregonians." The measure must first collect 1,000 voter signatures to receive an official ballot title. After that, it will need to garner about 87,000 more to qualify for Oregon's November 2018 ballot.