Public Interest Groups Seek Delay of Net Neutrality Reply Deadline, Which Senate Democrats Seek
Groups opposed to the proposed overhaul net neutrality rules asked the FCC for an eight-week extension of the deadline for reply comments, now due Aug. 16 (see 1706280037). The petition notes that more than 15 million comments were filed. “This…
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volume alone warrants an extension of time for the replies,” the groups said. “The current schedule does not afford interested persons enough time to read and properly consider the record, let alone to prepare their own replies.” The groups note the FCC provided a longer comment period in past net neutrality proceedings. Public Knowledge, Access Now, the American Civil Liberties Union, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Consumers Union, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Engine Advocacy and National Consumer Law Center are among those that signed the filing in docket 17-108. Some 20 Democratic senators plus Vermont independent Bernie Sanders sought more time, too, noting past net neutrality proceedings gave twice the amount of time for replies: 60 days. "The FCC should follow its own precedent and extend the reply comment period to ensure the fullest spectrum of comments fills the docket in this historic rulemaking," wrote Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Al Franken of Minnesota, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and others. The agency declined to comment.