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Get Ready: FCC Boss Tells ISPs He'll Kill Net Neutrality Soon

FCC boss Ajit Pai is privately telling ISPs he wants to strip away net neutrality rules, and hopes that broadband providers will promise to "voluntarily" protect net neutrality instead. Reuters reports that the FCC boss met privately with a number of large broadband providers earlier in the week to privately brief them on his plans. Pai "wants internet service providers to voluntarily agree to maintain an open internet," three anonymous industry sources told Reuters on Thursday.

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The problem, of course, is while ISPs like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon are likely to agree to avoid things like outright blocking or throttling of websites (something they never planned to do anyway), it's unlikely they'll agree to avoid the kind of areas where real net neutrality violations are occurring these days (interconnection, usage caps, overage fees, and zero rating).

Pai's decision to drive forward with killing net neutrality rules via FCC process suggests that the government doesn't believe it will have the votes to drive a net-neutrality killing bill through Congress. Or, a Congressional bill from like likes of Senator Thune could arrive later as a "solution" for whatever repeal Pai proposes (a sort of one, two punch of pay-to-play lawmaking).

The problem for Pai is that to truly roll back the net neutrality provisions via the FCC rulemaking process requires a lengthy new public-input period -- and that he provide proof that things have dramatically changed enough to justify a reversal since last June's major FCC court victory. Rushing repeal through with just an understaffed 2-1 FCC vote could result in some serious legal problems for the agency.

The creation of the net neutrality rules resulted in a record 4 million public comments, the lion's share being in support of the rules. Given that consumers are still fuming about the government's decision to kill broadband privacy protections, the resulting backlash should be...interesting.

Still, if you're an executive at a giant ISP like Verizon, AT&T, Comcast or Charter, you have to be pleased with Ajit Pai's dedication to being an automated rubber stamp to every whim and desire. Since taking office Pai has:

• Killed an effort to bring competition to the cable box.

Protected prison phone monopolies from attempts to prevent them from over-charging inmate families.

Killed an FCC inquiry into how AT&T and Verizon had been using "zero rating" and usage caps to tilt the competitive internet playing field anti-competitively.

• Began dismantling efforts to provide subsidized broadband to the poor.

• Provided full-throated support to killing broadband privacy rules that protect consumers.

• Has begun the process of gutting FCC oversight of broadband providers in an attempt to shovel all oversight back to the FTC with an eye on less oversight of broadband providers overall.

Reuters says Pai plans to unveil his proposal to overturn net neutrality protections "as early as late April" and that the effort "could face an initial vote in May or June." As a result, consumer groups are gearing up for what should be one hell of a fight.

"If these reports are true, Chairman Pai is preparing to give dominant cable and telecommunications companies what their DC lobbyists have dreamed of for years: voluntary net neutrality ‘rules’ where consumer protection is no more than 'trust your cable or internet provider,'" said consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge of Pai's plan.

Most recommended from 50 comments



ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

30 recommendations

ptrowski

Premium Member

So that means a huge increase in CAPEX right?

So all these years the ISP's were telling us NN will slow down expansion, stifle competition, squash upgrades, and make bananas turn brown earlier. I am assuming if Pai kills NN then all the sudden we should see a massive explosion of network growth and upgrades, right? [ /sarcasm]

CylonRed
MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County

30 recommendations

CylonRed

MVM

Like that has worked before - it is what caused NN to be considered/created

quote:
FCC boss Ajit Pai is privately telling ISPs he wants to strip away net neutrality rules, and hopes that broadband providers will promise to "voluntarily" protect net neutrality instead.

MDA
Auto Negotiating
Premium Member
join:2013-09-10
Minneapolis, MN
Netgear CM600
Asus RT-AC66U B1

23 recommendations

MDA

Premium Member

Let the markets work!...

"Have patience!... There will be unlimited supply of all the goods and services you've come to love if you just leave us to do our jobs!"

Its like the little kid that promises they won't be naughty anymore. But they keep doing it and doing it until the foot of justice has to be put down.

Time to put the foot down, America.
dickie757
join:2013-04-30
Portsmouth, VA

13 recommendations

dickie757

Member

Every time I see his name

my mind's eye sees A Piece of Shit

SHSPVR
join:2003-12-15
Vinita, OK

12 recommendations

SHSPVR

Member

Dear Mr. Pai

We the People say you're fired

TIGERON
join:2008-03-11
Boston, MA

9 recommendations

TIGERON

Member

Pai is asking for it

Obviously this douchenozzle didn't learn from the vicious defeat of SOPA a few years ago.

Just wait until the FCC is flooded with a massive backlash over his threat of trying to overturn net neutrality.

Packeteers
Premium Member
join:2005-06-18
Forest Hills, NY

6 recommendations

Packeteers

Premium Member

pigs flying over a frozen hell

Mr Pai: when will wired isp-only subscribers enjoy cheaper monthly rates - if they don't mind getting stuck in the slow lanes?