ISPs Ignore Toothless FCC Demand To Not Kick Users Offline During COVID-19

ISPs Ignore Toothless FCC Demand To Not Kick Users Offline During COVID-19

4 years ago
Anonymous $9CO2RSACsf

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20200416/08145144311/isps-ignore-toothless-fcc-demand-to-not-kick-users-offline-during-covid-19.shtml

A few weeks back, the Trump FCC put on a big show about a new "Keep America Connected Pledge." In it, the FCC proudly proclaimed that it had gotten hundreds of ISPs to agree to not disconnect users who couldn't pay for essential broadband service during a pandemic. The problem: the 60 day pledge was entirely voluntary, temporary, and because the FCC just got done obliterating its authority over ISPs at lobbyist behest (as part of its net neutrality repeal), it's largely impossible to actually enforce.

"Some people who just lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic are finding that they have lost something else — phone and internet access. Across the country, suddenly unemployed residents are getting threatening notices, despite an initiative from the Federal Communications Commission that pledged last month to "Keep Americans Connected."

ISPs Ignore Toothless FCC Demand To Not Kick Users Offline During COVID-19

Apr 17, 2020, 2:26pm UTC
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20200416/08145144311/isps-ignore-toothless-fcc-demand-to-not-kick-users-offline-during-covid-19.shtml > A few weeks back, the Trump FCC put on a big show about a new "Keep America Connected Pledge." In it, the FCC proudly proclaimed that it had gotten hundreds of ISPs to agree to not disconnect users who couldn't pay for essential broadband service during a pandemic. The problem: the 60 day pledge was entirely voluntary, temporary, and because the FCC just got done obliterating its authority over ISPs at lobbyist behest (as part of its net neutrality repeal), it's largely impossible to actually enforce. > "Some people who just lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic are finding that they have lost something else — phone and internet access. Across the country, suddenly unemployed residents are getting threatening notices, despite an initiative from the Federal Communications Commission that pledged last month to "Keep Americans Connected."