Campaign Action
Eighteen attorneys general around the country are investigating "the 1+ million fake comments being used by regulators to gut protections for consumers" and demanding that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai delay the vote on ending net neutrality until their investigation has been completed.
The 'Restore Internet Freedom' proposal, also known as net neutrality rollback […] has far-reaching implications for the everyday life of Americans. Regardless of opinion on any underlying matter, such issues should be met with the utmost integrity of the administration process.
[…] A careful review of the publicly available information revealed a pattern of fake submissions using the names of real people. In fact, there may be over one million fake submissions from across the country. This is akin to identity theft on a massive scale—and theft of someone's voice in a democracy is particularly concerning.
They are joined by members of Congress. Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi points out to Pai, "Your agency’s process may be fraudulent," relying on fraudulent comments. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) is demanding a delay and congressional hearings "on whether #FCC & Chairman Pai were complicit with fraud." Both of Maine's senators, Republican Susan Collins and independent Angus King have written to Pai as well, demanding that today's vote be cancelled.
"This is a matter of enormous importance with significant implications for our entire economy, and therefore merits the most thorough, deliberate, and thoughtful process that can be provided. The process thus far in this important matter has not met that standard. […] Given that this change will affect every sector of the U.S. economy, we are also concerned about the speed of the process, the lack of public hearings, and the underlying rationale for repealing net neutrality without an adequate replacement."
Other FCC commissioners are taking strong dissenting stands, but the FCC has three Republicans and just two Democrats and that means big telecom rules. But this is far from over, and Pai is jeopardizing his own position by rushing this through.
Time is running out before Trump's FCC and Big Cable destroy net neutrality—but we can still stop them. Tell Congress to oppose Trump FCC's plan to destroy net neutrality and the open internet.