With protestors crowing from the sidewalks outside, the FCC met to discuss the proposed net neutrality rules on Thursday. Mignon Clyburn was the first commissioner to speak and kicked things off with a story about how she knew something wasn’t right about the proposed rules. She knew, because her elderly mother called her and told her so.
Clyburn explained in her statement how her mother had never in her entire career called her to ask about a policy initiative. But all that changed in late April, when reports of net neutrality rules that would allow pay-to-play deals between service providers and internet companies. Clyburn’s mom certainly wasn’t the only one concerned, either. Protests have pretty much been going on nonstop since then, and Clyburn recognizes that.
“[The public has] made it clear that the internet is a great equalizer in our society, and that average users should have the same access as those with deep pockets,” Clyburn said in her statement. After she’d explained her position, she concluded, “So Mom, I hope that answers most of your questions, and I sincerely hope that you won’t feel compelled to ask me any more significant policy questions for another 16 years.”
Update: Despite the concerns of Clyburn’s mother, the FCC moved forward with rules after all.
