(Image source from: Washington Examiner)

The United States President Donald Trump's administration has sued the state of California in an endeavor to strike down its new net neutrality law, signed only hours earlier by Democratic Governor Jerry Brown.

According to reports by USA Today, among 34 bills signed on Sunday afternoon, Brown approved the nation's toughest net neutrality protections, setting up a legal fight by bringing back Obama-era internet regulations the federal government repealed about nine months ago.

On Sunday night, the Justice Department filed its lawsuit, arguing Senate Bill 822 interferes with the federal government's deregulatory approach to the internet.

"The Justice Department should not have to spend valuable time and resources to file this suit today, but we have a duty to defend the prerogatives of the federal government and protect our Constitutional order," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.

Ahead of California, the three states - Washington, Oregon, and Vermont - passed their own net neutrality bills, though none of them were as rigorous.

The California law prevents broadband providers from charging higher fees for faster speeds and from blocking websites or slowing down. It as well limits some zero-rated data plans.

The bill's sponsor, state Senator Scott Wiener called Sunday a win for an open society, USA Today said.

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"While the Trump administration does everything in its power to undermine our democracy, we in California will continue to do what's right for our residents," Wiener said.

"Net neutrality, at its core, is the basic notion that we each get to decide where we go on the internet, as opposed to having that decision made for us by internet service providers. It's also about ensuring a level playing field for ideas and for businesses trying to compete."

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai voiced support for the federal lawsuit.

An Indian-origin lawmaker, identifying the internet as an interstate information service said only the federal government can set policy for it.

In January, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, along with 21 other states pushed back against the FCC's repeal of net neutrality.

The California legislature moved the bill to the governor's desk on September 11.

By Sowmya Sangam