Net Neutrality: Senate Oversight Hearing of the FCC, March 8, 10am ET

Source: Statista, Jan 25, 2017.

President Donald Trump appointed Ajit Pai as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Pai is an outspoken critic of the 2015 Open Internet Order which was drafted to protect the open internet and ensure net neutrality. It basically classifies the internet as a public utility, like electricity or water, and prohibits internet service providers from blocking or throttling any (legal) content or prioritizing content from one source over another. The chart above shows major ISPs such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon have recently made, or are in the process of making, large investments in content providers. As an example, if AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner is approved, wouldn’t Comcast have an incentive to throttle consumers' internet connections when watching HBO, which belongs to its biggest competitor AT&T, and competes with its own content providers?

U.S. Senate Committee On Commerce, Science, & Transportation Hearing entitled “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission,” March 8, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. ET.

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene the Full Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. ET, in Senate Hart Office Building, Room 216, Washington, D.C.

LIVE video (and replay) of the hearing will be available  at www.commerce.senate.gov, together with witness prepared testimony and opening statements.

FCC Chair Ajit Pai (center), FCC Commissioners (L-R) Clyburn & O'Reilly 

Witnesses:

• The Hon. Ajit Pai, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) @AjitPaiFCC
• The Honorable Mignon Clyburn, FCC Commissioner @MClyburnFCC
• The Honorable Michael O’Rielly, FCC Commissioner @MikeOFCC

Hearing Preview:
As part of the Committee’s oversight responsibilities, the hearing will have a broad scope covering every aspect of the agency and major policy issues before the FCC. Democrats will likely put the FCC's new Chairman, Ajit Pai, on the "hot seat" concerning his positions on net neutrality, including his recent dropping of a probe into data plans offered by T-Mobile and AT&T, as well as easing reporting requirements for smaller internet service providers. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA.) has been one of his most vocal critics and will likely confront Pai with sharp questions at the hearing.

Also note that currently, the FCC has two vacancies for commissioner and it is not yet clear when President Trump will nominate a Republican and Democrat to fill those 2 positions.

FCC website: fcc.gov

Twitter: @FCC

Chairman @AjitPaiFCC is proposing new rules to help consumers block unwanted robocalls & carriers to block calls from fake numbers.

— The FCC (@FCC) March 2, 2017

Is it illegal for me to get a robocall without consent to my wireless phone? Yes. Find out more here: https://t.co/y97pZw8rhA #NCPW2017

— The FCC (@FCC) March 6, 2017

Freaked out about Trump's assault on net neutrality? Come work for EFF on keeping the net free and openhttps://t.co/DR852uQbXx pic.twitter.com/fQ8PMG7bJa

— Cory Doctorow (@doctorow) March 3, 2017

When the New York AG sued Spectrum-Time Warner Cable, he showed what can happen without net neutrality rules. https://t.co/FeGI5hLkTL

— EFF (@EFF) March 6, 2017

2 years ago, millions of Internet users spoke up for strong #NetNeutrality rules to protect the free and open Internet. We can do it again.

— EFF (@EFF) February 27, 2017

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DISCLAIMER

Senate Committee Hearing on FCC, Open Internet Order, 2:30 pm EDT

U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation Hearing: Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission, March 18, 2015, 2:30 PM EDT (US) - This Full Committee hearing will take place in Senate Russell Office Building, Room 253. Witness testimony, opening statements, and a live video of the hearing will be available on the Senate Committee Hearing website.

"U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, entitled, “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission. As part of the Committee’s oversight responsibilities, the hearing will have a broad scope covering every aspect of the agency, from its Fiscal Year 2016 budget request to major policy issues before the Commission. This will be the Committee’s first public opportunity to directly question the Commission about its controversial Open Internet Order. The Committee is also expected to explore matters related to the modernization of the nation’s communications laws and the reauthorization of the agency, which has not occurred in 25 years." (source: US Senate Committee Hearing website, supra)

Witnesses:
- The Honorable Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
- The Honorable Michael O’Rielly, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
- The Honorable Ajit Pai, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
- The Honorable Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
- The Honorable Tom Wheeler, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission

UPDATE (after House hearing Tuesday): Grading Wheeler’s first day on the Hill — Now he faces the Senate — POLITICO: "Tuesday morning was a contentious one for Wheeler as he faced House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz and other Republicans on the committee. There was meticulous questioning of Wheeler’s nine meetings with White House officials over the past year, Alex reports, as Republicans tried to paint a too-cozy connection between the agency and the president. Transparency was also in the spotlight, with Chaffetz alleging the FCC has improperly responded to congressional inquiries and FOIA requests. “[Wheeler’s] demeanor set a defiant tone for the next two weeks, which will see him testify four more times before four other GOP-led committees intent on chipping away at his Internet rules,” Alex writes... Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly: “I think he did superbly well. I didn’t think they laid a glove on him. … He was firm without being disrespectful. I think he brushed aside their insinuations like a fly.”"

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