The Vermont Broadband Consumer Protection and Competition Act aims to strengthen consumer protections and enhance competition in the broadband and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services market in Vermont. The bill introduces a new subchapter within the Vermont Statutes Annotated that requires broadband providers to obtain a certificate of net neutrality compliance, prohibits deceptive marketing practices, and establishes a protocol for tracking consumer complaints. It mandates that providers maintain records of these complaints and submit annual reports to the Attorney General, detailing their service plans and market practices. The legislation also emphasizes the monitoring of competition and business practices, with the Attorney General responsible for assessing their impact on consumers and the economy, while preventing service disconnections during declared states of emergency.

Furthermore, the bill empowers the Attorney General to assess compliance costs for broadband providers, maintain confidentiality of sensitive information, and submit an annual report to the General Assembly on market competition and consumer complaints. It allows the Attorney General to adopt additional rules for implementation and ensures that the new regulations do not infringe on existing consumer rights or provider obligations under Vermont law. The bill also mandates the Commissioner of Public Service to monitor health and safety risks associated with VoIP services, particularly during outages, and to develop consumer education initiatives. Notably, it repeals a previous statute regarding the Attorney General's review of broadband providers' network management practices, signaling a shift towards more comprehensive oversight in the sector. The act is set to take effect upon passage.