Yep, here’s another post about the FCC push against net neutrality. I’ve written about other topics and will post them in the following weeks. Promise. It’s just that, as a writer who needs access to a wide range of websites for research and a US citizen who as witness the deepening class system in my country, this is important enough to me to repeat.
More than two months ago, I blogged about the Day of Action for Net Neutrality (see my “Message to Americans: The Future of the Net“) and how that battle for fair access to the Internet is part of what makes our current world feel like a part of dystopian science fiction (in “Cyberpunk Net Neutrality“).
A request I made to Americans in both posts was to officially comment on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Docket 17-108 to help protect net neutrality.
On August 1, several long-standing organizations filed a motion requesting an eight-week extension of the FCC’s deadline for replies. These organizations included the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), international Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), Consumers Union, National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) “on behalf of its low-income clients”, World Wide Web Foundation, and Writers Guide of America West (Movants).
The FCC considered the motion for ten days later before extending the deadline for comments until August 30. (You can read the FCC’s response on their website or see Engadget‘s summary.)
On the day of the extended deadline, over 500 small businesses signed an open letter to the FCC and US Congress, urging them to preserve Title II net neutrality protections.
Without making any publicized response I can find, the FCC continues to accept comments on the issue. Perhaps until September 30, 2017? That’s unclear.
Much of this issue is clouded by government misdirection. However, despite Chairman Ajit Pai’s reluctance to consider legitimate feedback, the comments to the FCC matter. They are a public record that are and will continue to be read. Your voice matters.
To reply to Docket 17-108 while the option remains, visit the proceeding’s page and click on “+ Express” for a brief comment or “+ New Filing” to upload supporting documents.
Another option is to tell your representatives in the US Congress to fight for net neutrality. An free, easy tool for cellphone users to contact the appropriate members of Congress is Resistbot.
Additional Reading:
The FCC’s Myths vs. Facts Sheet, Annotated by TechCrunch
Part of the timeline: “House Net Neutrality Meeting Cancelled” by Engadget on August 31, 2017
Fight for the Future (for news updates)
Shadow Fals 
One thought on “The Battle for the ‘Net Continues”
Comments are closed.