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Officials urged to draft law that restores net neutrality

I humbly encourage Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz as well as Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to urge Gov. David Ige along with the Hawaii Legislature to draft a law this coming session that restores net neutrality.

With all of the wildfires set off here on Maui, there is a threat from major internet providers to skim back on viable data services to not only emergency response personnel, but to the general public as well.

I ask that my local elected officials encourage the local state government to follow what California’s state legislature drafted and have it implemented here in the State of Hawaii.

We can’t afford to have companies skim back on a viable service during times of civil emergencies like Verizon did to the State of California firefighters and law enforcement in the ongoing firestorm they’re having. Many California citizens too had their services skimmed away.

I urge Sens. Hirono and Schatz and Rep. Gabbard to take this issue very seriously. I urge them to encourage Gov. Ige and the state Legislature to enact a law that allows for a free, uninterrupted, and skim-free internet service for Hawaii’s citizens and emergency response personnel.

Jake Smookler

Wailuku

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