Comedian John Oliver is once again tackling net neutrality, urging viewers of his HBO show Last Week Tonight to flood the FCC with comments about the expected demise of its open internet order.
You might recall that a similar plea in 2014—which called on viewers to support rules that ultimately passed in early 2015—crashed the FCC's website. Now, Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is moving to roll back those rules, and Oliver is asking fans to mount a similar campaign.
To help people get to the correct section of the FCC's website, Last Week Tonight purchased the URL gofccyourself.com, which redirects to the public comments section of the net neutrality order (17-108). There, click "Express+" on the right, where you can post your thoughts. As was the case last time, the site is experiencing a few hiccups, so if it doesn't load right away, try again.
Though Pai has released the text of his proposal, the FCC has not yet voted on it. That's scheduled to happen at its May 18 open meeting, after which point the formal commenting period begins. After the agency has collected comments, it will finalize its proposal and hold a final vote later this year.
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Oliver, meanwhile, went after Pai's reasoning for axing the FCC's rules. He acknowledged that the topic can be a rather snoozy one, likening the fight over Title I vs. Title II to "the equivalent of chasing an ambien with a shot of chloroform." But, he argued, letting ISPs police themselves is not exactly a brilliant idea.
It's basically like "OJ Simpson asking why you won't let him hold any of your samurai swords," Oliver quipped.
Pai has argued that the FCC's rules prompted ISPs to decrease investment in their networks over the last two years. But Oliver pointed to 2014 comments from Verizon exec Fran Shammo in which he said it "does not influence the way we invest." Verizon, however, is perfectly happy to allow Pai to dismantle the rules.