{"id":339526,"date":"2017-04-28T07:38:36","date_gmt":"2017-04-27T23:38:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcrunch.com\/?p=1482700"},"modified":"2017-04-28T07:38:36","modified_gmt":"2017-04-27T23:38:36","slug":"how-to-comment-on-the-fccs-proposal-to-revoke-net-neutrality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/how-to-comment-on-the-fccs-proposal-to-revoke-net-neutrality\/","title":{"rendered":"How to comment on the FCC\u2019s proposal to revoke net neutrality"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

The FCC has made its initial proposal as to how it intends to do away with net neutrality<\/a> \u2014 and despite what leadership there has said, that\u2019s definitely how the document reads<\/a>. You are free to make your thoughts known on the notice of proposed rulemaking, as it\u2019s called, and here\u2019s how to do it.<\/p>\n

Because millions of commenters nearly crashed the entire system when net neutrality was being established, the FCC has prudently improved the process ahead of the \u201csignificant public engagement and a high volume of filings\u201d sure to come over the months. Here\u2019s how to use it.<\/p>\n

For most people<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re just a citizen who wants to make your voice heard, there are two ways of submitting a comment in the FCC\u2019s Electronic Comment Filing System. First, go to the listing for the \u201cRestoring Internet Freedom\u201d proposal<\/a> \u2014 yes, that\u2019s what it\u2019s called. On the left are two buttons.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>(If the link above doesn\u2019t work for you, go here<\/a> and type \u201c17-108\u201d in the top box. It should fill itself in and the result will be the same.)<\/p>\n

If you just want to write a note explaining your views or suggesting something to look into for one of the many questions in the NPRM, click \u201cExpress\u201d \u2014 this has fewer boxes to fill out and no option for attaching documents.<\/p>\n

If, on the other hand, you are (for example) a lawyer or professor and want to attach a more substantial analysis or chart, use \u201cNew Filing\u201d and you\u2019ll have the relevant tools.<\/p>\n

For most people, the page should look like this:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Note that all this information will be publicly available, including your name and address! That\u2019s part of the deal if you want to take part in the process. It also helps keep repeat and fake submissions down. (They\u2019ll probably throw away the ones signed \u201cMickey Mouse.\u201d)<\/p>\n

For organizations and bulk submissions<\/h2>\n

Do you work at an organization, charity, school or something like that, and have a bunch of comments that you\u2019ve collected? The FCC respectfully asks that you not submit hundreds or thousands of similar comments via the ECFS form, as it can bog things down. Instead, you can submit them in bulk \u2014 they\u2019ll all still count as individual messages, though!<\/p>\n

Go to this page<\/a> and download the template CSV file \u2014 it\u2019s basically a spreadsheet with a number of basic headings that can be parsed easily by the FCC system. Obviously you\u2019ll want the Proceeding Number and Name to be correct, unlike the example one, but make sure your spreadsheet has the same headings.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Just transfer the data from your form to that spreadsheet, then attach the spreadsheet and let the FCC know how to get in touch with you if something\u2019s wrong with it. If you\u2019re planning on submitting a really major collection of comments, the FCC asks that you get in touch first at ECFSHelp@fcc.gov.<\/p>\n

Developers<\/h2>\n

Want to build a web app so your users can submit comments without going to the FCC website? There\u2019s an API for that. You\u2019ll need curl<\/a> and a key from api.data.gov<\/a>. Got those? All the necessary snippets and documentation are here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What should you write?<\/h2>\n

All the comments will be looked at in one way or another, but substantial ones that address specific points in the proposal will almost certainly get a little more attention. Make your position clear, whatever it may be, and use the paragraph numbers in the NPRM to call out specific points. You can download it in a couple of formats here<\/a> \u2014 it\u2019s long, but scan through it and you\u2019ll definitely find something worth commenting on.<\/p>\n

Take your time to craft a substantial comment addressing a specific issue you can speak to personally, or that you\u2019ve looked into enough to feel you have an informed opinion.<\/p>\n

For example, say you wanted to weigh in on whether the ban on broadband providers throttling certain content is a good idea, or if you trust them to do so voluntarily. You could write:<\/p>\n

\n

Paragraph 82 asks for input on whether throttling should be regulated. In the past ISPs have throttled content based on their own determination of what was lawful or permissible, and had to be forced to stop in the courts. Isn\u2019t it possible they could do this again? I\u2019m also concerned by mobile providers who say a plan is \u201cunlimited,\u201d but when you exceed the data cap, only throttle sites and services that aren\u2019t part of their approved zero-rating network. Thanks for reading my comment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

You can be more broad if you want, even if you\u2019re not quite sure what things like Title II and Section 706 are:<\/p>\n

\n

I\u2019m worried that the protections that are in place will be weakened if we change the way they\u2019re enforced. I would support a new regulation style if it guarantees the same or better protections, but not if we lose any.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This kind of input is important, too. Let\u2019s just try to avoid things like \u201cYou suck Pai! XD\u201d<\/p>\n

Unless you want to, you don\u2019t have to have references or links or anything. This is about making your voice heard, not making a case in court. As long as you make your point clearly, your comment will be counted among those preferring one course over another.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s it \u2014 now get commenting! They asked for it, after all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"\" The FCC has made its initial proposal as to how it intends to do away with net neutrality — and despite what leadership there has said, that’s definitely how the proposed rules read. You are free to make your thoughts known on the notice of proposed rulemaking, as it’s called, and here’s how to do it. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

\n<\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"\/ <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5817,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[59,66,26],"class_list":["post-339526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technology","tag-media","tag-techcrunch","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5817"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=339526"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339526\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=339526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=339526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=339526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}