Net neutrality rollback faces online protest

How many online activists does it take to save Silicon Valley’s favorite Obama-era regulation?

Organizers of an online protest aimed at derailing a Republican plan to roll back net neutrality rules are hoping the magic number is 70,000. That’s the number of sites and organizations — including Amazon.com, Google, Facebook and even President Donald Trump’s favored medium, Twitter — that have pledged to participate.

Today, the big commercial sites will join scores of online activists and businesses in asking users to contact Congress and the Federal Communications Commission, where Republican Chairman Ajit Pai, a Trump appointee, commands a majority and is moving toward gutting the rule against interfering with web traffic.

Already the FCC has received 5.6 million comments on the issue, ahead of Monday’s deadline.

The FCC is expected to roll back the rule that forbids broadband providers led by AT&T, Comcast and Verizon from blocking or slowing data.

Atlanta-based Cox Communications, one of the nation’s largest cable providers, said in a statement: “Cox has always been committed to providing an open internet experience for our customers and reversing the classification of internet services will not change our commitment. We do not block, throttle or otherwise interfere with consumers’ desire to go where they want on the internet.

“We call on Congress to enact permanent net neutrality principles that guarantees key protections for consumers without the use of outdated utility regulations and ends the regulatory uncertainty that occurs from administration to administration.”

Cox Communications is owned by Cox Enterprises, which also operates The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Critics say that if Pai succeeds, broadband companies will slow web traffic, block rivals’ internet content, censor unpopular viewpoints and charge extra fees.

Backers of Pai’s move say the rule claims too much authority over private broadband providers and discourages investment.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is moving toward gutting the rule against interfering with web traffic.