Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 220 - Department of Administration
Chapter 30 - Purchases
Subchapter 00 - N/A
Part 1 - General Provisions
Section 220-RICR-30-00-1.9 - Internet Neutrality Principles
Current through September 18, 2024
A. State contracts for fixed or mobile broadband internet access service shall be awarded only to service providers that adhere to the internet neutrality principles set forth herein.
B. Adherence to internet neutrality principles means that an internet service provider shall not, with respect to any consumer in the State of Rhode Island (including State agencies):
C. "State agency" means any department in the Executive Branch of State government and any agency, authority, board, bureau, commission, division, institution, office, or other instrumentality within or created by any such department, and any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality, or agency over which the Governor exercises executive authority.
D. "Broadband internet access service" means a mass-market retail service by wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all internet endpoints, including all capabilities that are incidental to and enable the operation of thecommunication service, but excluding dial-up internet service. The term "Broadband Internet Access Service" also includes any service that the Federal Communications Commission determines to be providing a functional equivalent of the service described in the preceding sentence or which is used to evade the protections set forth in this regulation.
E. "Edge provider" means any individual or business entity that provides any content, application or service over the internet, and any individual or business entity that provides a device used for accessing any content, application or service over the internet.
F. "Paid prioritization" means the management of a broadband internet service provider's network to directly or indirectly favor some traffic over other traffic, including, but not limited to the use of techniques such as traffic shaping, prioritization, resource reservation, or other forms of preferential traffic management, either,
G. Waivers to the within internet neutrality principles may be granted by the Director of Administration/Chief Purchasing Officer only upon written request from a State agency director.
H. The Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, the Emergency Management Agency, and the Division of Information Technology shall advise the Director of Administration/Chief Purchasing Officer on potential actions to promote internet neutrality to protect Rhode Islander citizens' access to a free and open internet.
I. Nothing contained in this internet neutrality regulation shall be construed to supersede any federal, state or local law.