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More Than 40 ISPs Across the Country Tell Chairman Pai to Not Repeal Network Neutrality (eff.org)

An anonymous reader shares a report: One excuse FCC Chairman Ajit Pai regularly offers to explain his effort to gut net neutrality protections is the claim that open Internet rules have harmed ISPs, especially small ones. During a speech earlier this year, he stressed that 22 small ISPs told him that the 2015 Open Internet Order hurt their ability to invest and deploy. In reality, though, many more ISPs feel very differently. Today, more than 40 ISPs told the FCC that they have had no problem with the Open Internet Order (PDF) and that it hasn't hurt their ability to develop and expand their networks. What is more, that they want the FCC to do its job and address the problem Congress created when it repealed the broadband privacy rules in March.

61 comments

  1. God Damned Clickbait Headline... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Telling Mr Pai that the rules have not been cumbersome to them, is not the same as telling him to not repeal those rules.

    1. Re:God Damned Clickbait Headline... by Desler · · Score: 5, Informative

      Of course not, that's why the letter also says:

      We wish to further express our opposition to the proposed plans to reverse course and again undergo another reclassification of broadband back into an information service

      Want to try again?

    2. Re:God Damned Clickbait Headline... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Try again? Why? My point still stands. TFS omits that crucial piece of info, and thus, the headline is clickbait for a summary that doesn't say the same damn thing.

    3. Re:God Damned Clickbait Headline... by Desler · · Score: 1

      Nice backpedalling and goalpost shifting.

  2. That's because Net Neutrality ISN'T NET NEUTRALITY by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can we please stop with this notion that "net neutrality" as exists in law is not the same as "net neutrality" as the slashdot crowd thinks of it?

  3. Pai is full of BS by UnknowingFool · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Pai said this back in May: "Just last week, we heard from 22 small ISPs, companies that nobody has ever heard of in towns very few people will ever visit, and what they told us is, look, we are being inhibited." As far as I know, Pai has never named the ISPs nor shared the communications. Whereas this week 40 ISPs through the EFF signed a letter stating the opposite. I'll let you decide who is not telling the whole truth.

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    1. Re:Pai is full of BS by dfm3 · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Four out of five dentists agree... that if you poll a large enough sample size and are dishonest in how you report the numbers, you can get statistics to say anything. Did they have to ask 500 ISPs to find those 22?

    2. Re:Pai is full of BS by UnknowingFool · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Communication with the FCC should be public record especially when the ISPs are discussing legislation and regulation. Why hasn't Pai disclosed the names? Also Pai failed to disclose how many ISPs were in favor of Net Neutrality. The fact that 40 of them went as far as to sign a public letter about their stance says more.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    3. Re:Pai is full of BS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      If you're member of the Trump cadre, what's the downside to lying?

    4. Re:Pai is full of BS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anyone having a formal meeting in person or over the phone is required to file an ex parte describing exactly who attended the meeting on both sides, along with what was discussed.

      What you see is some less honest players file an ex parte saying pretty much nothing about the meeting and instead say 'we met with Chairman Pai and the ___ bureau staff and discussed Internet Freedom'. And that says absolutely nothing about what side they advocated for or what was really discussed.

    5. Re:Pai is full of BS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think what would be of greater importance is how many people do those companies cover,

    6. Re:Pai is full of BS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Pai said this back in May: "Just last week, we heard from 22 small ISPs, companies that nobody has ever heard of in towns very few people will ever visit, and what they told us is, look, we are being inhibited."

      And yet, he never actually explains how treating everyone equally prevents a company from investing more or expanding their business.

      Just like the drug companies, insurance companies and everything else, the message is still the same: We can't run our business unless you allow us to rape consumers to the maximum possible amount.

    7. Re:Pai is full of BS by penandpaper · · Score: 1

      When polled, 9 out of 10 people said that they enjoyed gang rape.

    8. Re:Pai is full of BS by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      Anyone having a formal meeting in person or over the phone is required to file an ex parte describing exactly who attended the meeting on both sides, along with what was discussed.

      I find it hard to believe however that Pai had a private meeting with 22 of them in a week until it was 1) all at once or 2) they merely emailed or called the FCC. Either of the two should have a record.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    9. Re:Pai is full of BS by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      The problem is even if you believe that ISPs are out to screw over their customers, small ISPs are actually protected by Net Neutrality against bigger ISPs. It is in the interest of small ISPs to favor Net Neutrality.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    10. Re:Pai is full of BS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, you only THINK it says more because you like what the letter said better than what Pai said.

    11. Re:Pai is full of BS by GrumpySteen · · Score: 1

      "companies that nobody has ever heard of"

      if nobody has heard of them, it means they have no customers. Sounds like he's talking about shell companies put together to parrot whatever opinions their owners want to repeat.

      But then again, he's also made it clear that he wants to allow all of the obvious bot comments supporting his repeal of net neutrality to be accepted as genuine support, so it's not like he hasn't been clear about his agenda and his lack of concern what the actual public wants.

    12. Re:Pai is full of BS by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1
      Let's compare:
      Pai: 22 ISPs that no one has heard of and that I have not named are against Net Neutrality.
      vs
      40 ISPs sign a public letter for Net Neutrality.

      Who do you believe?

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  4. Re:Boom goes the dynamite by Desler · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Except these companies don't have high-paid lobbyists so he's unlikely to care.

  5. A failure to understand how government is designed by Alascom · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "...they want the FCC to do its job and address the problem Congress created when it repealed..."

    This is a grossly false assertion.
    The FCC's job is to implement the law as directed by Congress, not the other way around.

  6. Re:A failure to understand how government is desig by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

    Next thing you'll expect this administration to respect checks and balances. Hahahaha.

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  7. Also... by XSportSeeker · · Score: 1

    They should also tell him that allowing ISPs to sell user data is a blatant violation of privacy that no company should be allowed to do.
    But hey, small victories.

    1. Re:Also... by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      Oh he probably knows. He doesn't care but he's lying through his teeth to sell falsehoods is the problem.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  8. At this point all you need to know about by bravecanadian · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Amit Pai is that he is a Republican. That equals liar and hypocrite for those of you keeping track at home.

    1. Re:At this point all you need to know about by ewhac · · Score: 4, Informative

      No. All you need to know about Ajit Pai is that he is the former Associate General Counsel to Verizon.

    2. Re:At this point all you need to know about by Highdude702 · · Score: 2

      You. You are a moron. It doesn't matter whether there is a R or a D or a fucking hippy sign behind their name. If they are a politician, and a career politician at that.. They are a liar and a hypocrite. BUT!! Big butt.. You're such a partisan asshole you believe everybody with that little D behind their name is a saint and shits roses and gumdrops.. People like you ARE the problem with the world. All you care about is "You" and people that think like "You". Now please go think about this and try to grow up.

    3. Re:At this point all you need to know about by penandpaper · · Score: 1

      is a saint and shits roses and gumdrops.

      To be fair, some of the shits I have taken were rose coloured and gumdrop shaped... Turns out I have colon cancer.

    4. Re:At this point all you need to know about by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are a worthless piece of human trash and should kill yourself in the bloodiest and most painful of ways.

    5. Re:At this point all you need to know about by Areyoukiddingme · · Score: 2

      No. All you need to know about Ajit Pai is that he is the former Associate General Counsel to Verizon.

      We thought Tom Wheeler was going to be like Pai, since he was a former cable lobbyist. He surprised us, and the FCC reclassified ISPs as common carriers under his watch.

      It really does come down to individuals. (And possibly his age contributed. Tom Wheeler knew he didn't need another job after his stint at the FCC. Pai is young. He's gonna need another cushy Verizon job.)

    6. Re:At this point all you need to know about by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, no. Fuck off and die in a fire.

  9. Re:That's because Net Neutrality ISN'T NET NEUTRAL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And ruin everyone's fun?

  10. Wow 40... by aicrules · · Score: 1

    Not saying this isn't important news..but 40 is not a lot.

    1. Re:Wow 40... by aicrules · · Score: 1

      I guess compared to the 22 he originally cited that's a lot...but neither amount is meaningful enough to make policy decisions on.

    2. Re:Wow 40... by Desler · · Score: 1

      It's more than the unnamed 19 ISPs that Ajit Pai was using as justification for rolling back the classification.

      https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub...

    3. Re:Wow 40... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I guess compared to the 22 he originally cited that's a lot...but neither amount is meaningful enough to make policy decisions on.

      yes indeed "majority rules" is the only criterion in today's politics

      51% of the population can put the other 49% to tortuous death and it's all good

    4. Re:Wow 40... by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      No according to the 22 he allegedly said was against it. Also Pai didn't disclose how many contacted the FCC being for Net Neutrality. Hundreds could be for it and he could have cherry picked 22 against.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    5. Re:Wow 40... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tyranny of the majority, yep. It was part of why America adopted a representative government rather than deferring to pure democracy. Unfortunately, the game has been changed so much that it's practically rigged and the power that democracy needs to keep representatives in check is ineffective. These clowns do whatever they want, whenever they want, and face no serious repercussions.

      I think we'll need to shoot a few more Congress critters before they get the clue.

  11. Re:That's because Net Neutrality ISN'T NET NEUTRAL by mrclevesque · · Score: 2

    "Can we please stop with this notion that "net neutrality" as exists in law is not the same as "net neutrality""

    How so?

  12. Pai is completely, totally bought by ZorinLynx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Look at his record of the things he's done so far. ALL of them favor big ISPs, and NONE of them favor the consumer.

    The man is completely bought. He has absolutely no business heading the FCC, which is all about regulating communications and the PUBLIC airwaves.

    I don't understand why so many people in this country, especially those who aren't wealthy, continue to support politicians that not only don't work for the people, but are so BLATANTLY and OBVIOUSLY corrupted by big corporate money and influence.

    1. Re:Pai is completely, totally bought by fishscene · · Score: 1

      Because the alternative was even more blatant and obvious corruption. I.E. The Hilary campaign and the Democratic National Convention.

    2. Re:Pai is completely, totally bought by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >...continue to support politicians that not only don't work for the people...

      Huh? They do that shit AFTER they're in office. They don't say ahead of time, "Well if you get me in office I'll screw you".
      C'mon now I mean sure blame the victim.

    3. Re:Pai is completely, totally bought by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      *cough*Libertarian Party*cough*

    4. Re:Pai is completely, totally bought by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I voted for whatsanaleppo.

      Fuck me, I knew it wasn't happening, but I had some slim hope that the 5% barrier would've been finally breached and glorious funding would've been available.

      Instead, people just stayed fucking home. Which is fucking dumb, because your local offices affect you on a day to day basis in a way that Clinton and Trump can only dream of.

    5. Re:Pai is completely, totally bought by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      Basically Trump was only elected so that the corporate Democrats and the corporate whore Clinton would not be. In fact the only thing expected from Trump is to lose the next election, along with the Republicans, to be replaced by a reformed Democrat party, well partially, it will take years to dig out the corporate stooges infesting politics.

      Clearly Trump has control over pretty much nothing, with the deep state ensuring it is neither investigated nor prosecuted whilst it wages the forever war across the planet and pillages us into extinction, to feed their psychopathic egos.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  13. Re:Net Neutrality benefits only the rich by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is quite possibly one of the stupidest things ever said, and a complete inverse of what Net Neutrality actually does.

  14. Re:That's because Net Neutrality ISN'T NET NEUTRAL by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

    Hey, now, it's complete bullshit that telesurgery users can buy priority transit. My cat videos are just as goddamn important.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  15. Re:Boom goes the dynamite by rudy_wayne · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Except these companies don't have high-paid lobbyists so he's unlikely to care.

    Net Neutrality hurts the big corporate overlords such as Comcast and Mr. Pai's former employer, Verizon, and that is the only thing that matters.

    He, and his Republican Commrades, had already made up their minds about this before he was appointed chairman of the FCC. Anyone who thinks this will have any impact on his decision is completely delusional.

  16. Hearing but not listening. by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

    It seems that those in government -- generally of both parties but, lately, more specifically Republicans -- listen more to ideologies than ideas. Remember people, you get for whom you vote.

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  17. Theft is more important than these punks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Even though it is illegal!

    The fact is that these little guys do not matter, only the ones that stole the most through underhanded tactics matter. Like Spectrum!

    They just make you see the light of why you should or should not join them rather than properly doing business because they think they feel what they see.

    Ya no shit, turn a wrench you cunt whores.

    They even go as far as under employing or paying your employees, what a quality system!

    That really is how it is.

    Why create another account to login and forget as well as apply more forgetfulness to my good passwords? Oh yea, cause Spectrum and other large company employees need to fix their password problems for the nth time.

  18. Re:Net Neutrality benefits only the rich by ausekilis · · Score: 2

    At the risk of feeding the trolls, this is incredibly misguided.

    Net Neutrality means anyone with internet access can access whatever they want, regardless of "connection tier", income, gender, race, sexual preference, generations in the U.S., or whatever other nonsense segregation you can come up with. It's what stops ISP's like Comcast from promoting only their stuff. It allows the cheapskates to avoid cable and opt for Netflix instead.

    The only racism I can see in Net Neutrality is it's the old, stuffy, technologically inept, pro-business white guys that want it.

  19. Re:A failure to understand how government is desig by buss_error · · Score: 2

    The FCC's job is to implement the law as directed by Congress, not the other way around.

    Which is how you get lawyers that don't understand technology setting technology policy. The FCC understands tech (at the lower, non-polcy levels) but the administration of FCC oversight is set by politicians.

    Let's put it like this: How's that repeal and replace going for ya? They've been saying for 7 years this is job one, and here it is, 150 days into a majority Republican administration (and soon SCOTUS). The key fact here is not the health care policy itself, it's the fact that it doesn't really matter who is in power - it's all screwed up, and that swamp might be getting drained, but the sewage back fill is a higher flow rate than the swamp water outflow.

    --
    Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
  20. Chairman Pao? Thought she worked at Reddit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So sue me!

  21. Their "Job"? by madcat2211821 · · Score: 1

    Their "Job" now is to serve their regulatory captors at the expense of the rest of the People.

  22. ISPs should go with nuclear option. by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 2

    Begin by blocking all political donation sites to all the congress critters that support the repeal of net neutrality. That's a fun start but you can take it to some weird extremes.

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  23. Re:That's because Net Neutrality ISN'T NET NEUTRAL by ortholattice · · Score: 0

    "Can we please stop with this notion that "net neutrality" as exists in law is not the same as "net neutrality""

    How so?

    For one thing, will "net neutrality" mean they will stop blocking incoming port 80 (web server) to my home network, unless I buy the expensive "business class" service?

  24. Re:Pai is shallow and pedantic by See+Attached · · Score: 1

    Just change for changes sake is just plain ignorant. If there is something better... describe desired objectives, define how we meet them, how we will pay for it, and what benefit it will have to all. And then it makes sense. Same thing for healthcare. The compulsion to repeal something ... just because, ... is just shallow and pedantic (thanks Peter Griffin ) or at least mean spirited. Maybe Mr Pai can tell us how its going to benefit you and I. The people he serves. Should we start a new tradition of thought and discussion preceding action?

    --
    Time for a new Political party in the US (or two!) One is off the rails Other cant pony up a leader.
  25. Re:Boom goes the dynamite by davester666 · · Score: 2

    Sorry, your comment assumes the final decision has not already been made. It has. He is just waiting for the time limit to expire and then the "decision" will be posted.

    --
    Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
  26. Re:That's because Net Neutrality ISN'T NET NEUTRAL by mrclevesque · · Score: 1

    Not sure that's a net neutrality issue 'as exists in law', but I get the impression it might not be if your ISP blocks port 80 for all it's residential consumers.

  27. I can't be the only one... by OfMiceAndMenus · · Score: 1

    Does anyone else think "Chairman Pai" sounds like an Asian dictator's name?

    "Here we have Chairman Pai, Chairman Mao's lesser-known cousin..."