Chairman Pai responds to critics of net neutrality rollback, vows to stop "bad apples"

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai says that as the FCC rolls back the Obama-era network neutrality rules, consumers will be protected under the commission's new "Restoring Internet Freedom" rule which goes into effect June 11. Chairman Pai said that the new rules will provide a "light touch approach" that produces "tremendously positive" benefits for consumers. Chairman Pai says he believes the net neutrality rules adopted during the Obama administration discourage internet providers from making investments in their network to provide better, faster online access. 

But critics claim that the FCC's new rules could invite internet service provides an opportunity to slow down its competitors' content. Chairman Pai said that the Federal Trade Commission will work to prevent such cases of "bad apples in the internet economy" from taking place. "We've empowered the FTC to take action against any company that might act in any competitive way," he said. "The consumer is going to be protected and we preserve the incentive for companies to build out better, faster, and cheaper internet access." He added, "consumers need to protected and the FTC is the only one under current law that can do that."