How to Comment on FCC Network Neutrality Proposal
The FCC has proposed an end to net neutrality , which means a possible end to the free and open Internet. Under net neutrality rules, the FCC requires Internet service providers such as Comcast and AT&T to provide a level playing field for all websites and Internet services.
Like last time , the FCC has opened a forum to comment on their proposal. Comments will be open until July 18, and replies to comments will be open until August 16. There are five million comments so far.
To leave a comment, follow this link . Click Express to add a comment and click New Submission to upload documents.
Gigi Son, a former FCC adviser, gave advice on the comments in a post by Mashable . In addition to being an advisor to former FCC chairman Tom Wheeler, Son co-founded the equal-competition nonprofit Public Knowledge .
Sure, there are templates you can use for comments, but original, thoughtful comments can help make a stronger case for adhering to net neutrality rules and help experts defend them in an imminent cancellation lawsuit. Messages like “Net neutrality is bad :(” titled “John Oliver” carry much less weight than messages containing strong and detailed arguments against it .
Have you already commented and don’t feel like you succeeded? You can comment again. “During such proceedings, companies and organizations participating in the debate will submit many comments, including after visiting commissioners and FCC officials to present their case,” Zon wrote.
Below are some tips Zon gives to make your comment meaningful.
1. Make it personal
Write about how net neutrality affects you personally. “Maybe you’re an entrepreneur who sells chocolates and coffee and could never compete if Godiva and Starbucks paid for faster delivery. You may be selling crafts on Etsy that would never have caught the attention of the public if ISPs could opt for Amazon or eBay for whatever reason, ”Zon wrote in her post.
But the end of net neutrality can affect you, even if you’re not running a small business. You can write about how you use the Internet or how it has improved your life. Did you get your degree online? Do you communicate with your friends via social media? “If you think these benefits will be lost if ISPs can pick winners and losers on the Internet, say so,” she said.
2. Comment on why you pay for Internet access.
Why did you subscribe to broadband? “To get an email address, cloud storage or other online service from that particular provider?” The dream wrote. “Or in order to get reliable access to all Internet offerings at high speeds? Tell the FCC if you receive email, cloud storage, web hosting, or other value-added services from someone other than your ISP. “
Currently, the FCC classifies broadband Internet service providers as an “information service” rather than a “telecommunications service”. By reversing net neutrality, he tries to argue that ISPs offer (and people buy) access to the Internet and other services such as email and cloud storage.
Initially, broadband was viewed as a “telecommunications service,” but in 2015 the FCC examined how broadband is advertised and what consumers thought they were buying. They changed the definition of broadband Internet service providers to “information service” because consumers were paying for broadband access to quickly access the Internet, rather than accessing different ways of communicating with others.
3. Write about the variety (or rather lack thereof) of broadband Internet.
One of the arguments advanced by opponents of net neutrality is that customers can switch to other ISPs. However, an April FCC report found that 58% of Americans have access to zero or one broadband Internet service provider, and 87% of Americans have access to only two or fewer.
In addition to addressing the lack of choice, you might also want to mention the difficulty of switching ISPs. “What options do you have for 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up (FCC definition of broadband)? Are they a viable choice or do all ISPs charge the same prices for the same services? What are the transition costs? Would you incur a financial penalty? Do you have to buy new equipment? Will you have to rest for a day or two while waiting for the installation? “
4. Indicate what you think the role of the FCC should be in regulating the Internet.
Another aspect of the debate is whether the FCC should be able to regulate broadband Internet service providers. “This role includes protecting consumers from, among other things, intrusions into their privacy, billing fraud and overpricing by their broadband providers,” Zon wrote. “If the FCC is left without power over broadband providers, Comcast could double its prices overnight, and the FCC or any other agency cannot do anything about it.”
If you think the FCC should have this authority, please write why it is important to you and what aspects of broadband the FCC should be able to regulate.