Letters seem to be flying into the FCC today. In a letter sent to the FCC today, 18 attorneys general from all over the country have called upon the FCC to delay tomorrow’s vote on repealing net neutrality protections. The 11th-hour letter was send by the Oregon attorney general and signed by representatives of 17 states and DC.
This letter follows a high-profile press conference that was held last week by New York attorney general. He said that FCC had declined to investigate net neutrality comments that were posted under stolen identities. FCC has been pressured multiple times but FCC chairman Ajit Pai has ignored all comments and concerns by saying that the vote will happen tomorrow regardless of what anyone else thinks.
“As state Attorneys General, many of our offices have received complaints from consumers indicating their distress over their names being used in such a manner,” the attorneys general write. “While we will investigate these consumer complaints through our normal processes, we urge the Commission to take immediate action and to cooperate with law enforcement investigations.”
Breaking: 18 AG's write the @FCC asking to delay #NetNeutrality rule making process. https://t.co/8KSIpa5SC9 pic.twitter.com/57fCr9nk8y
— Ellen Rosenblum (@ORDOJ) December 13, 2017
The letter from the attorneys general says to have an “immediate delay” so that investigations can be conducted on the comments that were posted under stolen identities. The FCC’s decision to move forward with the vote despite the fact that there is undeniable proof of fraudulent comments has drawn a lot of criticism from public and lawmakers alike.
Citing this issue, both Democratic FCC commissioners, and many other Democratic lawmakers, have called for the vote to be postponed until this issue can be resolved. Even Republican Sen. Mike Coffman has issued a letter to the FCC urging them to postpone the vote.
“While not all of us may agree on any given policy, we stand together today as prosecutors of fraud and as defenders of the democratic process,” the letter from the attorneys general concludes. “It is essential that the Commission gets a full and accurate picture of how changes to net neutrality will affect the everyday lives of Americans before they can act on such sweeping policy changes.”
