FCC Sued for Inaction on Bogus Net Neutrality Comments So we've been noting for some time that "somebody" appears to be spamming the FCC's net neutrality proceeding with utterly bogus comments in support of the agency's plan, likely an attempt to help downplay the scope of opposition to the agency's myopic move. Many of the comments were posted by a bot that appears to be pulling names from a hacked database of some kind -- in alphabetical order. While it wouldn't be hard to identify and purge this bogus comments since they all say effectively the same thing -- the FCC has made it clear it has absolutely no interest in policing the ongoing fraud on the agency's website.

Why? Again, if the legitimacy of the commenting process is undermined, it's easier for the FCC to downplay the massive public opposition to its plan to aid giant broadband duopolies by killing popular net neutrality protections. But in a bit of a twist, the FCC has now been sued by freelance Jason Prechtel, who says the agency simply ignored a Freedom of Information Act request attempting to glean more information about the bogus comments -- and the FCC's response to them. Prechtel filed his FOIA request on June 4. On June 14 the agency stated that it would be extending the deadline for responding to his request from July 3 to July 18, after which they never contacted him again. "As the agency is legally obliged to respond to my request, and as the underlying questions behind my request still haven’t been answered, I have filed a lawsuit against the FCC for [its] refusal to conduct a reasonably timely search for the records, and have demanded the release of these records," Prechtel said in a blog post. "Even now, over three months after my FOIA request, and even after I’ve filed a lawsuit, this request is still listed as 'under agency review.'" That's par for the course for this current FCC, who similarly informed me they'd be doing aboslutely nothing about a comment filed in my name (and in the name of DSLReports.com) that voiced support for the killing of the rules. Again, the benefit to the FCC and industry should be obvious; if the legitimacy of the entire public comment system is questioned, it's easier to try and ignore the obvious will of the public. It's a dangerous game the agency and industry is playing that will likely pop up again in the inevitable lawsuits filed against Pai and friends -- when they vote to finally kill the rules later this year. Those interested can find the complete lawsuit Those interested can find the complete lawsuit here (pdf).







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Most recommended from 21 comments

8744675

join:2000-10-10

Decatur, GA 15 recommendations 8744675 Member Turnabout is fair play! It sounds like we all need to start filing our FCC comments as Ajit Pai going forward. After all, the FCC has made it clear that nothing will happen if we do, and he'll be on record supporting everything that we want and the ISP's hate. Klarth

join:2005-09-16

Oronogo, MO ·Mediacom

4 recommendations Klarth Member Complaining to the FCC is pointless The writing was on the wall when the tangerine shit-gibbon was elected. I'd love to see the Venn diagram for those who passionately protest the long-held Republican position on NN against those who just couldn't vote for the alternative because of "BUT HER E-MAILS!". This is not something that just came out of the blue. Everyone knew this would be handled by the FCC chair hand picked by the incoming president and the stances were crystal clear, so why are people so shocked that they are in the bargaining phase of the 5 stages of grief? Time to move on. silbaco

Premium Member

join:2009-08-03

USA 2 recommendations silbaco Premium Member Comments I don't get why everyone is fighting over comments. The FCC does not make rules based on which side has the most comments or likes. This isn't a Facebook poll. Nobody at the FCC cares or has ever really cared about the comments made by the general public. I guess people like to think their voice matters in the digital age where anyone can submit a comment, but it doesn't. Submitting comments to the FCC was the equivalent of doing nothing.

ARGONAUT

Have a nice day.

Premium Member

join:2006-01-24

New Albany, IN 2 recommendations ARGONAUT Premium Member FCC The going have to be sued every step of way.