FCC chair: Net neutrality supporters ‘proven wrong’ day after repeal

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai said Friday that supporters of net neutrality provisions that were repealed Thursday have been proven wrong, as internet users wake up still able to send emails and use Twitter after the regulations were struck down.

Speaking on “Fox and Friends,” Pai said Friday that net neutrality supporters such as ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel were wrong to grandstand about the end of “the internet as we know it.”

“He’s getting everything wrong about it,” Pai said of Kimmel. “The free and open internet we had prior to 2015 is the one we’re going to have going forward. And that kind of name-calling and hysteria is disappointing, but it’s not surprising.”

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Pai went on to say that Kimmel and others were “proven wrong” by the fact that internet service providers (ISP) had not rolled out immediate changes Friday morning.

“Those who have said the internet as we know it is about to end have been proven wrong starting this morning,” Pai said, “as people send emails, check on their Twitter accounts, post on Facebook, and the like.”

“We have a free and open internet going forward,” he added, “and the FCC and the FTC [Federal Trade Commission] going forward are going to make sure that happens.”

The FCC voted 3-2 on Thursday to repeal net neutrality rules passed under President Obama’s administration in 2015. The repeal was supported by Republicans but opposed by Democrats.

Kimmel, who was referenced directly by Pai, called the decision “despicable” in his show’s monologue Thursday night.

“The Federal Communications Commission did something absolutely despicable today: They voted to put an end to net neutrality,” Kimmel said.

“Now, as long as they tell us they’re doing it now, internet service providers will be allowed to slow down or block web traffic to any website or streaming service they like — which benefits the big telecom companies, and does the opposite for all of us,” he added.