FCC Spokesman: Pai Within Bounds to Champion Net Neutrality Proposal

A Federal Communications Commission spokesman said that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was well within the law to speak out in favor of his network neutrality proposal, which includes rolling back Title II reclassification, eliminating the general conduct standard and reviewing the Open Internet order rules. That came after news that Sen Brian Schatz (D-HI) had suggested the chairman may have violated a requirement that the FCC must consider public comment before taking a particular policy position.

"Like Chairman [Tom] Wheeler before him and all others in FCC leadership, the law is clear that Chairman Pai can express his opinion and speak out in favor of his proposed approach to ensuring Internet Freedom," said the spokesman. "As Chairman Pai made clear in his speech, he intends to seek public input on his proposal and that this will be the beginning of the discussion, not the end."