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Net Neutrality Rollback Faces New Criticism From US Congress -- And 16 Million Comments (techcrunch.com)
An anonymous reader quotes TechCrunch's newest update on the FCC's attempt to gut net neutrality protections:
10 Representatives who helped craft the law governing the FCC itself have submitted an official comment on the proposal ruthlessly dismantling it... The FCC is well within its rights to interpret the law, and it doesn't have to listen to contrary comments from the likes of you and me. It does, however, have to listen to Congress -- "congressional intent" is a huge factor in determining whether an interpretation of the law is reasonable. And in the comment they've just filed, Representatives Pallon, Doyle et al. make it very clear that their intent was and remains very different from how the FCC has chosen to represent it.
"The law directs the FCC to look at ISP services as distinct from those services that ride over the networks. The FCC's proposal contravenes our intent... While some may argue that this distinction should be abandoned because of changes in today's market, that choice is not the FCC's to make. The decision remains squarely with those of us in Congress -- and we have repeatedly chosen to leave the law as it is."
In another letter Thursday, 15 Congressmen asked FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to extend the time period for comments. They note the proposed changes have received more than 16 million comments, more than four times the number of comments on any previous FCC item. The Hill reports that the previous record was 4 million comments -- during the FCC's last net neutrality proceeding in 2014 -- and "the lawmakers also noted that the comment period for approving net neutrality in 2014 was 60 days. Pai has only allowed a 30-day comment period for his plan to rollback the rules."
"The law directs the FCC to look at ISP services as distinct from those services that ride over the networks. The FCC's proposal contravenes our intent... While some may argue that this distinction should be abandoned because of changes in today's market, that choice is not the FCC's to make. The decision remains squarely with those of us in Congress -- and we have repeatedly chosen to leave the law as it is."
In another letter Thursday, 15 Congressmen asked FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to extend the time period for comments. They note the proposed changes have received more than 16 million comments, more than four times the number of comments on any previous FCC item. The Hill reports that the previous record was 4 million comments -- during the FCC's last net neutrality proceeding in 2014 -- and "the lawmakers also noted that the comment period for approving net neutrality in 2014 was 60 days. Pai has only allowed a 30-day comment period for his plan to rollback the rules."
The way to get net neutrality is to convince Republicans that it is important, not cater to the 0.01% of the population who might actually change their votes over this.
I agree. Personally I think he should be thrown in prison.
"Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
But isn't that the attitude of the entire administration?
For example, the comments thing, "We nominally have a comment period, but we've decided to just ignore them."
I just don't get it. I'd expect speeches trying to justify what he's been doing, or trying to convince people to come around to his way of thinking...but really it seems like he just doesn't care.
To address the two observations.
First is that he doesn't care. You're not wrong. You are seeing the same thing that everyone else is. Ajit Pai does not care one little whit about this or anything else the general public wants.
As for the second part, the "Why" part. That's a bit tricky.
Right at this exact moment, he's untouchable. There are absolutely no consequences for his actions. After this is done and buried, he will be able to go on doing the same job in the same way for the same people. This is because the GOP controls the two of the three branches. The likelihood of Congress being able to pass a Net-Neutrality law in the next couple of years is close enough to zero to assume zero. The non-zero part is covered by Trump in the White House.
And that's it. That's why he's behaving like this. There are no consequences for him. None. So he is going to fuck everyone over and over for so long as he can get away with it.
the GOP controls the two of the three branches.
Uhh .. no. They control three of three. In addition to the presidency, senate, and house, 5 of 9 justices on the supreme court are Republican appointees. The Republicans also control 2/3 of the governorships and state legislatures.
The Democrats really need to figure out how to start winning some elections.
Prisons should only be used for violent people that must be separated from civilized society.
How do you propose to deal with guys like Bernie Madoff then? He robbed people of a lifetime of hard work - made it all mean nothing. Just because he didn't use violence to achieve his ends makes him no less worthy of separation from society. In a way I fear guys like him more than a thug who tries to beat me up.
For everyone else, there are more constructive punishments. For instance, Ajit could wear an ankle tracker will cleaning bedpans in nursing homes everyday for the next 10 years.
How is tracking his whereabouts going to matter? We already know where he is and it's not stopping him from being an asshat. Plus I've cleaned bedpans. While not fun work it isn't nearly awful enough. If you want to do creative punishments you need to get a lot more creative.
I find myself wondering if a centrist movement doesn't evolve from this mess. Perhaps not a new political party, but a sentiment that anything that is extreme right or extreme left is probably a bad idea, and that politicians that are unable to negotiate and compromise are a hindrance to the essential flow of business.
I am more concerned with companies like google inhibiting my ability to vent my frustration on the internet. They are the #1 visited site and have proven they are not afraid of shadow banning or manipulating search results to disenfranchise wrong speak and double ungood ideas. Two sides to the same coin, but at least right now the arguments to keep the censorship abilities of the ISPs to a minimum have some traction and have precedent to open up the markets.