Hold Accountable Those Behind Fake Net Neutrality Comments, Says Free Press
Those “behind the illegal effort to fake public opposition” to net neutrality should be held accountable, said Free Press Senior Director-Strategy and Communications Timothy Karr, after a Thursday report that two data firms working for industry group Broadband for America…
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submitted millions of fraudulent FCC comments opposing Title II Communications Act net neutrality in 2017 (see 1812030034). “We can see the money trail that reportedly leads from the largest cable and phone companies through their front group Broadband for America and into the hands of those paid to defraud the public,” said Karr. “It’s not right that the agency is still not talking about this mess -- or fixing it,” tweeted Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, calling “shameful” FCC “continued silence.” Rosenworcel urged the agency early last year to investigate fake filings (see 1801290054). "The Restoring Internet Freedom Order was based on a careful examination of the law and the facts, not substance-free form letters, such as the nearly 8 million identical one-sentence comments supporting Title II regulation that were tied to email addresses from FakeMailGenerator.com,” emailed an FCC spokesperson. BfA says it backs "Congress pursuing and enacting thoughtful, permanent and bipartisan legislation that enshrines the core principles of an open and inclusive internet." It didn't comment now.