* State Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced plans Thursday to take legal action against the Federal Communications Commission’s recent repeal of net neutrality rules. These rules required internet, phone and cable providers to treat websites of all sizes equally while allowing the federal government to regulate high-speed internet delivery like a utility.
* “The vote by the (FCC) to gut net neutrality could end the Internet as we know it,” Shapiro said Thursday, claiming the action “undermines free speech” and harms consumers and businesses.
* Shapiro’s action would join Pennsylvania with 17 states so far announcing plans to sue the FCC over what New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman called the “illegal rollback” of net neutrality.
* Shapiro and other attorneys general called previously for the FCC to delay the net neutrality vote, so that investigators could look into more than 1 million fake comments reportedly sent to the FCC about net neutrality. […] Shapiro released a website that residents can search to see whether their names and addresses were used fraudulently to influence the FCC’s comment process. The site can be found at badcomments.attorneygeneral.
Lancaster Newspapers: FCC decision to gut net neutrality will face ‘serious legal challenges’ from Pennsylvania attorney general
By Konstantine Fekos
State Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced plans Thursday to take legal action against the Federal Communications Commission’s recent repeal of net neutrality rules.
These rules required internet, phone and cable providers to treat websites of all sizes equally while allowing the federal government to regulate high-speed internet delivery like a utility.
“The vote by the (FCC) to gut net neutrality could end the Internet as we know it,” Shapiro said Thursday, claiming the action “undermines free speech” and harms consumers and businesses.
Shapiro’s action would join Pennsylvania with 17 states so far announcing plans to sue the FCC over what New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman called the “illegal rollback” of net neutrality.
Schneiderman is reportedly leading the multi-state legal action to reverse the FCC ruling.
Shapiro and other attorneys general called previously for the FCC to delay the net neutrality vote, so that investigators could look into more than 1 million fake comments reportedly sent to the FCC about net neutrality.
“This huge number includes tens of thousands of fake comments issued under the names of real Pennsylvanians,” Shapiro said. “The theft of someone’s voice in our democracy cannot stand, and we must first get to the bottom of this massive identity theft.
Shapiro released a website that residents can search to see whether their names and addresses were used fraudulently to influence the FCC’s comment process.
The site can be found here.
Residents whose identities were compromised to make fake comments to the FCC can submit complaints directly to the state Attorney General’s Office using the site.
“I plan to take legal action to protect Net Neutrality and believe the FCC’s decision will face serious legal challenges,” Shapiro said.
Read the article here.