Ajit Pai finally admits FCC comment system was utterly broken during net neutrality proceeding.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12, 2018
Contact: Evan Greer, 978-852-6457, press@fightforthefuture.org

Congress must pass CRA to reverse illegitimate decision to repeal Open Internet Order

After stonewalling, dodging FOIA requests, ignoring letters from victims of identity fraud, blocking law enforcement investigations, and dismissing concerns from lawmakers, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has finally admitted that his agency’s public comment system was utterly broken during its recent high profile net neutrality repeal proceeding.

“Ajit Pai’s response to concerns about widespread fraud and abuse during the net neutrality repeal process was always that it didn’t matter that the comment system was broken, since he was planning to ignore your comments anyway,” said Evan Greer, deputy director of Fight for the Future, “But the FCC is legally required to maintain a functional system for the public to have input into their proceedings. And now Ajit Pai has finally admitted that his agency failed to do that. Congress must do their jobs pass the CRA to reverse the FCC’s illegitimate decision, and ensure there is proper oversight in the future so that the public has a voice in proceedings that impact our most basic right and the future of the Internet.”

Fight for the Future was among the first to uncover the massive number of fraudulent comments in the FCC docket that used real people’s names and addresses without their permission. The group launched Comcastroturf.com, a tool to help Internet users check whether their identity had been used to file a fraudulent comment at the FCC, and organized a letter from dozens of people whose names and home addresses were used.

Fight for the Future and other net neutrality groups are planning to continue intense activism targeting House lawmakers over the summer, demanding that they listen to their constituents, sign the discharge petition and vote for the CRA to restore net neutrality protections for all.

###