Net Neutrality

As part of an initiative to purge its own regulations, the FCC says it’s removed rules (that hadn’t taken effect) to reclassify broadband providers as common carriers. They were already struck down by a federal appeals court, but advocates can still appeal to the Supreme Court. Free Press General Counsel Matt Wood says the deletion, which came without advanced notice, is “a premature housekeeping step,” that helps “score points with broadband monopolies and their lobbyists.”

Now that it’s added a 5th commissioner, a vote will be officially held on April 25th, but the FCC told advocates its plan ahead of time. The vote also includes reestablishing regulatory oversight of broadband internet, something the Trump administration took away — and was influenced by a lot of fake comments to the FCC.

I’m over at the FCC building in Washington, D.C. today because the agency is about to vote on a notice of proposed rulemaking to restore net neutrality.

Sources speaking to both Bloomberg and Reuters say that the FCC is ready to launch a grueling effort to reinstate net neutrality rules rescinded under Trump, after Democrats took majority control of the five-member agency on Monday. FCC chair Rosenworcel will reportedly outline the initiative later today, followed by months of notice and comments and voting and, inevitably, lawsuits backed by broadband providers like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast and the lawmakers they help elect.

Ads, surveys, a data breach: all were used to turn unsuspecting people into fake net neutrality comments. This report (pdf) from the NY Attorney General’s office details some shady shit; firms even cheated their own subcontractors.