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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."
I'm going to sit back and enjoy Slashdot commenters having an internal war over whether to support net neutrality (which has been pretty much universally approved of here before) of their BFF Trump who wants to destroy it. Let's watch!
Finally some sense from first posts from ACs!!
It's a proven fact that big corporations' and consumers' interests are identical. A big that makes a huge profit is always because they treat their customers fairly and offer them value.
And government regulation is evil. There is this evil Liberal Cabal in Berkeley California that sits around, smokes weed all day, and asks one another, "Hey man! What kind of stupid regulation can we create to cause business pain, increase their costs and lower the value to consumers and create more government bureaucracy?"
"Duuuuuuuuuuude! Get this! How about an agency that regulates medicine?! It'll force companies to test their drugs and make sure it isn't harmful."
"Yeah man! And another one to regulate telecos and the public airwaves!"
"Tgyaw! Hey man watch this!" Bangs on skull.
"What'd you that for?"
"I saw it in a movie once. Hey about regulations on banks?"
"Hey, anyone think Nacy Pelosi is hot?"
"Yaw, I'd hit it!"
Really, that's what happens. Government regulations are made by potheads in California.