Cable ISPs Refuse to Put Dedication to Net Neutrality in Writing

Right before the FCC voted last week to try and begin gutting net neutrality, the cable industry's top lobbying organization, the NCTA, took out a full-page ad in the Washington Post proclaiming that while the cable industry may have spent millions to kill the popular consumer protections, America's cable providers still really adore the idea of an open internet. Given the cable industry's ongoing attempts to gut all meaningful oversight of its growing monopoly, the general response from the public has been -- laughter.

"We’ve always been committed to an open internet that gives you the freedom to be in charge of your online experience. And that will not change," the ad claims.

"An open internet means that we do not block, throttle or otherwise impair your online activity," the ad continues. "We firmly stand by that commitment because it is good for our customers and good for our business."

A total of 21 of the NCTA’s member companies (including Charter, Altice, Comcast and Cox) signed on to the ad, but Kate Cox at the Consumerist tried to explore how deep this supposed dedication the "open internet" went, and didn't get very far. Cox contacted every one of the 21 cable providers to see if they'd be willing to put that promise in writing, and had a notably hard time of it.

"48 hours after we reached out, 14 companies never wrote or called back," notes the Consumerist. "A total of four companies, from those 18, responded in any way to our messages -- mostly without comment."

Only Cox offered up anything even vaguely resembling a coherent response, and they really were only willing to state that putting this promise in writing was "something we are looking into as the debate continues."

So out of 21 NCTA member companies, not one cable provider is actually willing to put this supposed dedication to consumers and an "open internet" in writing in any meaningful way, which should speak volumes.

The FCC's vote last week only begins the process of eliminating the rules. There's now a 90-day public comment period for you to share your thoughts with the FCC ahead of a final vote later this year. After that, FCC boss Ajit Pai will face inevitable lawsuits, and will need to convince a court that the broadband market changed dramatically-enough in two years to warrant such a drastic reversal of popular FCC policy.