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鈥淭he net neutrality rules protect against internet service providers deciding to block lawful content, to throttle or slow down lawful content, or to have paid priority,鈥� State Representative Drew Hansen told KTTH鈥檚 Jason Rantz.

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The Federal Communications Commissionto overturn the Obama-era net neutrality rules on December 14.

鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a stupid idea,鈥� Hansen said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 understand why they would rip away these rules that actually preserve the free and open internet that鈥檚 served us well. I mean, we have Republicans who agree with this, Democrats who agree with this. I honestly don鈥檛 know what they鈥檙e doing.鈥�

Internet companies have always been allowed to charge more money for faster service, something Hansen said he is on board with. However, what those companies haven鈥檛 been able to do under net neutrality rules is charge more money for consumers to view particular content.

鈥淟et the companies providing the actually content decide what they鈥檙e going to charge and let the markets sort it out. Don鈥檛 let Comcast and Verizon put their thumb on the scale,鈥� Hansen said.

Getting rid of net neutrality might be especially harmful to people in rural areas, where people have far less choice when it comes to internet providers, Hansen said.

鈥淭he broadband companies effectively have a monopoly in many areas of this state, particularly in the more rural areas,” he said.

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Although the FCC has already made its decision regarding the rules, Hansen it isn鈥檛 over yet. Individual states may have the right to overrule the FCC and decide to keep net neutrality rules in place.

鈥淭he states have always had broad consumer protection authority. We regulate consumer protection on the internet all the time,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no general preemption authority. You have to have a constitutional provision or a statute that gives Congress the authority to preempt state laws.鈥�

Washington鈥檚 Attorney General Bob Ferguson has said he will challenge the FCC鈥檚 ruling. Governor Jay Inslee also said he will work toward protecting consumers at the state level.

鈥淩epublicans and Democrats alike get this one,鈥� Hansen said. 鈥淲e get that it should not be the cable companies鈥� choice how fast you see particular content on the internet or what gets a fast lane and what gets a slow lane.鈥�