Digital Rights Groups Vow to Fight FCC Chair's Net Neutrality Attack "Tooth and Nail"

Open internet advocates slammed Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Ajit Pai’s plan to dismantle net neutrality, announced as expected on Wednesday, and vowed to fight him “tooth and nail.”

Pai, a former lawyer for Verizon, said in a speech to the anti-regulation group FreedomWorks that he wants to get rid of the rule that classifies the internet as a public utility under Title II of the Communications Act and prohibits Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from discriminating against websites or charging more for faster loading times.

Doing so would leave internet users “at the mercy of the phone and cable companies—some of the most-hated companies in America,” said Craig Aaron, president of the open internet advocacy group Free Press, at a press conference with senators on Wednesday.

Pai’s announcement comes just weeks after he met with telecommunications lobbyists. Opponents slammed him as a puppet of the industry.

Evan Greer, campaign director at the digital rights group Fight for the Future, said in a statement, “Pai’s speech was an insult to the intelligence of internet users. He attempts to portray basic free speech protections as heavy handed government regulation […] Internet users will fight tooth and nail to defend our basic right to connect, create, learn, and share.”