Urgent Threat to Net Neutrality

Last month, I warned a rollback of Net Neutrality was coming and shared some action items.

If you were on social media, you may remember that I got some pushback for that, for being a reactionary alarmist. That shit never gets old.

Today, Jacob Kastrenakes at the Verge reports: "FCC Chairman Says Net Neutrality Was a Mistake."

FCC chairman Ajit Pai said today that net neutrality was "a mistake" and that the commission is now "on track" to return to a much lighter style of regulation.

"Our new approach injected tremendous uncertainty into the broadband market," Pai said during a speech at Mobile World Congress this afternoon. "And uncertainty is the enemy of growth."

Pai has long been opposed to net neutrality and voted against the proposal when it came up in 2015. While he hasn't specifically stated that he plans to reverse the order now that he's chairman, today's speech suggests pretty clearly that he's aiming to.

...Pai has been chairman of the commission for just over a month now, and in that time, he's already begun chipping away at net neutrality in a few different ways: approving zero rating, scaling back transparency rules, proposing to halt major new privacy requirements. After this speech today, it's evident that Pai is just getting started.

It is impossible to overestimate how critical this issue is. Start pushing back NOW.

Ajit Pai today: "Our new approach injected tremendous uncertainty into the broadband market. And uncertainty is the enemy of growth."

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 28, 2017

Again: I don't have a crystal ball. I just PAY ATTENTION. And I am strongly urging you at this point to make noise to save Net Neutrality.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 28, 2017

Again: Suggestions for taking action, should you need them.