No one could accuse Ajit Pai, President Donald Trump's appointee as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, of concealing his intention to kill Net Neutrality.
Donald Trump’s Federal Communications Commission chairman, Ajit Pai, promised last December to bring a “weed-whacker” to the agency. He appears to be wielding a chain saw instead.
We speak with Tim Karr, senior director of strategy for Free Press, which is organizing support to keep the Net Neutrality rules in place ahead of the Dec. 14 vote.
Tim Karr, the senior director of strategy at the internet-rights nonprofit Free Press, said Pai’s plan would allow telecom giants like Comcast to prioritize their own websites and properties, like Comcast-owned NBC sites.
The Federal Communications Commission has announced a “total repeal” of Obama-era Net Neutrality rules, a sweeping rejection of Obama-era rules meant to keep the internet a level playing field and prevent companies from charging additional fees for faster internet access.
So drastic is FCC Chairman Pai's reversal of policy, and so weak is the evidence to support the change, that the plan seems destined to be struck down in court.
Net Neutrality — the principle that ISPs should treat all internet traffic equally, and not create “fast lanes” for certain companies — is considered by advocates to be fundamental to a free and open internet.
It is entirely reasonable to fear that Trump is politicizing the Justice Department, using the power of his office to subvert the rule of the law, as he has tried before.
American consumers are used to thinking of their internet service as a public utility, similar to turning on the tap and getting a consistent stream of water.
But those perceptions may soon be challenged by the FCC.
The Justice Department is suing AT&T to stop its $85-billion purchase of Time Warner, setting the stage for an epic legal battle with the telecom giant.