Welp, the kid gloves are coming off.
I think I’ve made it abundantly clear how much I don’t like current FCC head Ajit Pai. At least, in part, because of how much time I’ve had to spend on the chucklefuck.
Ajit Pai was shopped in after the fact.
Original Image Source: Getty Images
This, however, crosses the line. We’re not at playful bullshit anymore. Why? Well, because the FCC is planning on shunting any telecom customer complaints back to said telecom company, unless the person issuing the complaint ponies up $225. A plan which could be implemented, well, as soon as today.
According to The Verge, Democratic Sens. Frank Pallone and Mike Doyle have sent Pai a letter noting how concerned they are with the rules change. Specifically, as the change fundamentally allows the FCC to route complaints straight the the customer service departments of service providers, without the FCC reviewing them at all. That being a process the FCC terms “streamlining”. Formal complaints, on the other hand will run you that $225. An excerpt from the letter:
At a time when consumers are highly dissatisfied with their communications companies, this abrupt change in policy troubles us. As the chief communications regulator, the FCC plays a critical role in ensuring consumers—including families, small businesses, and struggling Americans—get fair and honest treatment from their service providers. We have all heard countless stories of consumers complaining to the FCC about waiting months to have an erroneous charge removed from their bill or for a refund for a service they never ordered or about accessibility services that are not working. Oftentimes these issues are corrected for consumers as a result of the FCC’s advocacy on their behalf.
We worry that the proposed change signals that the FCC no longer intends to play this role, and will instead simply tell consumers with limited means and time that they need to start an expensive and complicated formal legal process. Such an outcome is neither compelled by statute nor a wise public policy decision. Therefore, we urge you to reconsider this rule revision before the vote on July 12, consistent with applicable law and regulation.
According to CNET, the FCC denies that this will affect consumers in the way the Senators allege:
“The item would not change the Commission’s handling of informal complaints,” an FCC spokesman said in an email. “The Democrats’ letter is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the draft order.”
Unfortunately, according to The Hill, the wording of the proposal states that the change does exactly that.
So, in short; fuck you, Ajit Pai.
Source: Gizmodo
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