The vote on net neutrality is scheduled for Thursday, and amid protests from the public and major corporations alike, FCC commissioners themselves have voiced their opposition. Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel is expected to vote against chairman Ajit Pai’s plan to repeal the rules protecting net neutrality. The other Democratic FCC commissioner, Mignon Clyburn, is also speaking out against Pai.
Clyburn posted an “alternative” plan to Twitter with edits that change Pai’s repeal into an endorsement, Common Dreams reports. With these heavy edits (most of the text taken out, this is), the new “Policy Statement” would read: “After further review of the record we affirm the 2015 Open Internet Order.” The title of her improved plan is “Retaining Internet Freedom,” as opposed to “Restoring Internet Freedom,” a claim she believes is false — without these laws protecting net neutrality, she believes freedom of the web would be revoked.
In just 2 days, the @FCC majority will vote to repeal the nation’s #NetNeutrality rules. Today I will offer my colleagues an alternative proposal to #SaveNetNeutrality. Your thoughts? pic.twitter.com/sFQW3yi6KK
— Mignon Clyburn (@MClyburnFCC) December 12, 2017
Clyburn tweet states: “In just 2 days, the FCC majority will vote to repeal the nation’s #NetNeutrality rules. Today I will offer my colleagues an alternative proposal to #SaveNetNeutrality. Your Thoughts?”
Many people responded positively, thanking her for her fight against Pai’s plans.
Your proposal is approved! Thank you for all you are doing to save Net Neutrality, Commissioner Clyburn. Thousands of us are with you. @freepress
— Barbara Hall (@barjhall) December 12, 2017
We are fighting on our end as hard as we can and love that you are in the trenches doing the same!
— WindyCityGal (@windycitygal83) December 12, 2017
— Leigh M. Johnson (@DrLeighMJohnson) December 12, 2017
Back in November when Pai released his proposal to repeal net neutrality laws, Clyburn announced that “it’s worse than one could imagine,” offering up a fact sheet to educate the public on what it would mean for them if something like this were to happen.
Text of @AjitPaiFCC’s proposal to dismantle #netneutrality has been released. It’s worse than one could imagine. Confused what it all means? Read my 2-page fact sheet: https://t.co/9xek8r8r8w #SaveNetNeutrality. pic.twitter.com/DivJ4Eawos
— Mignon Clyburn (@MClyburnFCC) November 22, 2017
Clyburn encourages people who haven’t already joined her to speak up.
“The unfortunate problem is that the majority of the FCC is not listening right now,” Clyburn said in an interview with NOW THIS. “They’re not listening to those millions of voices who say we want the net neutrality rules to stay in place. But that should not stop you from weighing in.”
‘You should be concerned … Broadband internet access is the greatest equalizer of our time.’ — FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn on the importance of net neutrality pic.twitter.com/UJULV6raH8
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 8, 2017
“I don’t know what the future is going to bring in terms of that vote on December 14,” Clyburn admitted, “but I know silence is not golden.”
