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Pallone, Doyle Urge FCC to Extend Comment Period on Net Neutrality Proceedings

May 11, 2017

WASHINGTON, DC — Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Doyle (D-PA) sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Michael O'Rielly to allow Americans sufficient time to comment on the agency's proposal to gut net neutrality protections.

Pallone and Doyle stressed the importance of developing a comprehensive record that gives everyone a fair chance to weigh in on the proposal. They also pointed to the fact that the FCC's website crashed for a period of time earlier this week, making it impossible for the public to submit comments during that time.

"We urge you to extend the FCC's current comment period by at least one month so that the American people can adequately inform the Commission how to answer this question," Pallone and Doyle wrote.

The draft proposal, which was introduced by Chairman Pai on April 17, would give the public only 30 days to reply to initial comments. Pallone and Doyle note that this deadline would come in the middle of August when many small business owners, students, internet users, and workers might be away for summer vacations.

"In 2014, the FCC gave the public from May to July for initial comments and then from July to September to reply to those comments," Pallone and Doyle continue in the letter. "We believe the Commission should provide the public the same courtesy when reconsidering the existing protections."

Read the full letter here.