A last-minute flood of net neutrality comments has hosed the Federal Communications Commission's website, prompting the agency to extend the deadline for the first round of comments until July 18.
The first comment period was set to end today, but interested parties now have until midnight on Friday to share their thoughts on net neutrality with the FCC.
"We have seen an overwhelming surge in traffic on our website that is making it difficult for many people to file comments through our Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)," the FCC said today. "Please be assured that the Commission is aware of these issues and is committed to making sure that everyone trying to submit comments will have their views entered into the record."
The FCC is also accepting comments via email at openinternet@fcc.gov.
Once this first round closes, a round of reply comments - where people can respond to the comments submitted in the first round - will run until Sept. 10. After that, the FCC will consider everything everyone has had to say before crafting final rules.
Among those filing comments at the eleventh hour were Sen. Al Franken, a vocal supporter of the open Internet who lashed out at the FCC's early plan to allow paid prioritization in certain circumstances.
"Because of net neutrality, the Internet has become an open marketplace for ideas and commerce—a marketplace in which everyone can participate on equal footing, regardless of one's wealth or power," Franken wrote. "I urge the FCC to adopt strong net neutrality rules that protect consumers and preserve the open nature of the Internet."
Franken, along with 12 other senators, are actually encouraging the FCC to go the re-classification route. That is, re-classify broadband as a telecom service rather than an information service, which would give the FCC more direct authority over the nation's Internet service providers.
It's a controversial issue, and one to which the cable and wireless industries are vehemently opposed. In fact, getting broadband classified as an information service in the first place was such a contentious issue that it went all the way to the Supreme Court via the Brand X case. So reversing that decision will likely be just as much of a headache.
Another group to weigh in on net neutrality this week was the Internet Association, which represents Google, Amazon, Twitter, and more. They too called for an open Internet without a "fast lane" for those who can afford them, but the filing did not delve into re-classification, which is also known as Title II in DC speak for its placement in the Communications Act.
Among those opposed to action on net neutrality are Republicans, who have asked the FCC to just leave the issue alone and let the market handle it.
The last time the FCC website crashed, meanwhile, was when HBO host John Oliver suggested that Internet trolls turn their attention to the fight against a changing Web. Check out the segment in the video below.