The proposed bill, H.11, known as the Vermont Broadband Consumer Protection and Competition Act, seeks to strengthen consumer protections for broadband and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services in Vermont by establishing a new subchapter under 9 V.S.A. chapter 63. This legislation aims to foster a competitive broadband market by introducing net neutrality requirements, banning misleading marketing practices, and preventing excessive fees imposed by broadband providers. It also requires these providers to keep records of consumer complaints and submit annual reports to the Attorney General, who will oversee market trends and practices to ensure fair competition. Additionally, the bill prohibits service disconnections or high pricing during declared states of emergency, ensuring consumers remain connected during financial hardships.

The bill further empowers the Attorney General to assess compliance costs against broadband providers, maintain confidentiality of sensitive information, and submit an annual report to the General Assembly on competition in the broadband market. It also allows the Attorney General to adopt rules for implementing the subchapter in alignment with federal regulations. The legislation repeals a previous statute related to the Attorney General's review of broadband providers' network management practices. Moreover, it establishes a monitoring program for VoIP services, focusing on public safety during outages, and tasks the Commissioner of Public Service with reviewing outage reports, certifying compliance, and developing consumer education initiatives. The act is set to take effect upon passage.