Shortly before the deadline for submitting comments on its "Net neutrality" proposal lapsed, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it received over three million comments regarding the contentious issue.
The number of submissions represents a record for the agency. Previously, its most scrutinized issue was the "Nipplegate" scandal. The incident, which was triggered by a "wardrobe malfunction" that exposed Janet Jackson's breasts during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, has now been dethroned as America's most commented FCC issue. The incident inspired 1.4 million comments, less than half of the total for the Net neutrality proposals.
Kim Hart, the FCC's press secretary, announced the figure for the agency's Open Internet framework. "We have passed the 3 million mark for #OpenInternet comments received," she said in a tweet. The announcement came late on Monday morning. The total number of submissions likely grew between then and the deadline set for the end of the day.
If the number of comments grew exponentially at a rapid pace, it wouldn't be for the first time. The submissions have more than doubled since July, driven by a day of protest led by tech firms such as Netflix and the encouragement of comedian John Oliver.
The new rules, which were first revealed by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler last April, may give internet service providers like Comcast and Time Warner the right to charge content companies for faster delivery of their content. This arrangement, as long as it is "commercially reasonable," means that companies like Netflix would have to pay ISPs more so that its videos would play smoothly on people's TVs.
Critics say that the proposals would segregate the Internet into slow and fast lanes, thereby preventing start-ups from competing with corporations with massive funds. This may mean that Internet users would be denied better services (Minnesota Senator Al Franken once brought up the competition between Google Video and YouTube).
The issue has inspired submissions from consumers, companies, advocacy groups and politicians. "The FCC is going down a dangerous path, risking future Internet expression and innovation, and the big ISPs are encouraging the commission every step of the way," Electronic Frontier Foundation Intellectual Property Director Corynne McSherry said in a press release. "Will the FCC respond to the pleas of more than a million Internet users and do its part to protect net neutrality? Or will it open the door to a tiered Internet, with ISPs serving as gatekeepers for their subscribers?"
The FCC will use the comments for its final proposal. The agency will hold two workshops regarding the rules around October. After that, the agency's five member panel will put the matter to a majority vote.
