Verizon Wireless's throttling of a fire department that uses its data services has been submitted as evidence in a lawsuit that seeks to reinstate federal net neutrality rules.

Santa Clara County Fire Chief Anthony Bowden wrote in a declaration that County Fire has experienced throttling by its ISP, Verizon which had a significant impact on its ability to provide emergency services.

Verizon apparently imposed these limitations despite being informed that throttling was actively impeding County Fire's ability to provide crisis-response and essential emergency services.

Bowden's declaration was submitted in an addendum to a brief filed by 22 state attorneys general, the District of Columbia, Santa Clara County, Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District, and the California Public Utilities Commission.

The government agencies are seeking to overturn the recent repeal of net neutrality rules in a lawsuit they filed against the Federal Communications Commission in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

"The internet has become an essential tool in providing fire and emergency response, particularly for events like large fires which require the rapid deployment and organisation of thousands of personnel and hundreds of fire engines, aircraft, and bulldozers", Bowden wrote.

Santa Clara Fire paid Verizon for "unlimited" data but suffered from heavy throttling until the department paid Verizon more.

The court was shown emails between the fire department and Verizon that were submitted as evidence.

The FCC insisted that the net neutrality laws were a burden on the poor telcos who were struggling to make money despite their huge monopolies.  It claimed that the telcos would never throttle anyone and demand more money... because they said they wouldn't.