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John Oliver Tackles Net Neutrality (Again)

Last Week Tonight purchases gofccyourself.com, which redirects to the public comments section of the net neutrality order.

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

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Comedian John Oliver is once again tackling net neutrality, urging viewers of his HBO show Last Week Tonight to flood the FCC with comments about the expected demise of its open internet order.

You might recall that a similar plea in 2014—which called on viewers to support rules that ultimately passed in early 2015—crashed the FCC's website. Now, Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is moving to roll back those rules, and Oliver is asking fans to mount a similar campaign.

To help people get to the correct section of the FCC's website, Last Week Tonight purchased the URL gofccyourself.com, which redirects to the public comments section of the net neutrality order (17-108). There, click "Express+" on the right, where you can post your thoughts. As was the case last time, the site is experiencing a few hiccups, so if it doesn't load right away, try again.

Though Pai has released the text of his proposal, the FCC has not yet voted on it. That's scheduled to happen at its May 18 open meeting, after which point the formal commenting period begins. After the agency has collected comments, it will finalize its proposal and hold a final vote later this year.

Oliver, meanwhile, went after Pai's reasoning for axing the FCC's rules. He acknowledged that the topic can be a rather snoozy one, likening the fight over Title I vs. Title II to "the equivalent of chasing an ambien with a shot of chloroform." But, he argued, letting ISPs police themselves is not exactly a brilliant idea.

It's basically like "OJ Simpson asking why you won't let him hold any of your samurai swords," Oliver quipped.

Pai has argued that the FCC's rules prompted ISPs to decrease investment in their networks over the last two years. But Oliver pointed to 2014 comments from Verizon exec Fran Shammo in which he said it "does not influence the way we invest." Verizon, however, is perfectly happy to allow Pai to dismantle the rules.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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