July 10, 2017

Wyden, Schatz Urge FCC to Prepare for Deluge of Comments On Net Neutrality Day of Action, July 12

Washington, D.C.–Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, asked the Federal Communications Commission to ensure its commenting system is prepared to withstand a cyberattack as well as a surge of comments expected on July 12, a day of action for supporters of net neutrality.

“The FCC must be able to accept all comments filed to ensure that all voices are heard,” the senators wrote in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. 

The senators emphasized the FCC must prepare for the type of cyberattack that knocked the agency’s commenting system offline on May 7-8, and to provide for other ways to comment if an attack derails the online system again.

“In case the [online commenting system] is disabled through some new type of attack, it is critical that Americans be able to file a comment using other means,” the senators wrote. “We urge you to undertake temporary measures to ensure a functioning system on and around the anticipated surge of legitimate comments.”

Their full letter to FCC is available here.

Wyden and Schatz are strong supporters of net neutrality, and have pushed the FCC to ensure all legitimate public comments are recorded. The senators pressed the FCC for more details about the May attack earlier this year. 

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