Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Subscribe
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Subscribe
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity
    • Networking

    ‘Net Neutrality’ Comment System Failed to Screen Out Phony Messages

    Written by

    Robert Lemos
    Published August 31, 2017
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      A study of 21.8 million comments submitted to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on the Trump administration’s plan to remove regulations from cable, telecom and broadband providers found that the lack of any user authentication left the system open to abuse and left any conclusions based on the data about public sentiments on the issue open to criticism.

      By one measure focusing on whether the comments submitted to the FCC’s Electronic Comments Filing System (ECFS) are associated with a U.S. address and not “illegitimate” domain sentiment appears to favor repeal of the Obama-era regulations that restrict broadband providers, according to Emprata, the analytics firm that conducted the study. Broadband for America, the cable- and telecom-industry group that funded the study, publicized this aspect of the analysis.

      However, almost all the comments supporting the broadband providers’ position—as well as the vast majority of comments supporting current regulations—are from millions of form letters generated online.

      Focusing on just the unique comments—those statements from individuals and not from online automated systems—reveals overwhelming support for leaving the restrictions on broadband providers in place—the so-called “Net Neutrality” position—by more than 1.5 million comments to less than 24,000 arguing for repeal of the regulations.

      Overall, because there was no verification of comments in the ECFS system, the veracity of most comments cannot be verified, the analytics firm stated in the report.

      “The lack of user authentication by ECFS makes it difficult to determine ‘genuine’ comment submissions,” Emprata stated in the analysis. “As a result, it is very difficult to draw any definitive conclusions from the comments found in the docket. Any conclusions that one might draw from the data would be based on the subset of the data that they consider to be ‘real’.”

      Emprata did not respond to requests for comment by phone or email.

      The fight over whether broadband providers should be classified as a common carrier under Title II of the Telecommunications Act, rather than information carriers, has intensified over the past decade and a half.

      The Trump administration—especially FCC chairman Ajit Pai—has committed to rolling back the regulations, while content providers—such as Google, Netflix, Amazon and most Internet startups, who profit from the current regulations—and tech-savvy consumers have criticized the efforts to reclassify broadband providers.

      The nearly 22 million comments submitted to the ECFS underscore the efforts on both sides to influence the decision. In addition, fraud has become a major concern in the comment process.

      While the pro-ISP Broadband for America group has pointed to international comments and those using addresses associated with a fake email generation service as likely fraudulent, prior evidence indicated that comments supporting the repeal of the Title II designation had used the identity of people who did not support the repeal.

      “The vast majority of the comments support open internet principles, but the analysis clearly shows there is strong concern about the damage done by Title II,” Broadband for America stated in its position on the analysis. “This underscores the need for Congressional action.”

      Net Neutrality supporters of the current regulations on broadband providers pointed to the overwhelming number of unique comments favoring Title II as proof that individuals support the current regime.

      Nearly 1.8 million unique comments were against repeal of the regulations, compared to 24,000 for the repeal, stressed Evan Greer, campaign director for pro-Internet-freedom group Fight for the Future.

      “So the telecom industry’s own study essentially shows what nearly all other polling on this issue has shown: that they are getting trounced when it comes to public opinion, and people from across the political spectrum overwhelmingly agree that they don’t want their ISPs to have control over what they can see and do on the Internet,” she said in a statement to eWEEK.

      Robert Lemos
      Robert Lemos
      Robert Lemos is an award-winning journalist who has covered information security, cybercrime and technology's impact on society for almost two decades. A former research engineer, he's written for Ars Technica, CNET, eWEEK, MIT Technology Review, Threatpost and ZDNet. He won the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2003 for his coverage of the Blaster worm and its impact, and the SANS Institute's Top Cybersecurity Journalists in 2010 and 2014.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.