"There's just one problem: All of Pai's "myths" are real, and all of his "facts" are twisted." (Photo: Freepress)
Dec 01, 2017
Which shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Since Pai first hinted at his intention to gut the open internet, he's been roundly condemned by countless activists, small businesses, media makers and politicians -- not to mention millions of commenters. Net Neutrality is the First Amendment of the internet, and the internet has shown up to defend it.
But it turns out Chairman Pai is too thin-skinned to take the heat. Instead of listening to Net Neutrality supporters and abandoning his overwhelmingly unpopular plan to repeal the rules, Pai's office released an explainer to separate Net Neutrality "myths" from the "facts".
There's just one problem: All of Pai's "myths" are real, and all of his "facts" are twisted.
At Free Press, we're used to calling out Pai's lies for what they are. So today on Twitter, that's exactly what we did:
\u201cChairman Pai just released a #NetNeutrality explainer that denigrates serious public concerns as "myths" & presents his own lies as "facts."\n\nLet's break down exactly why this is nonsense, shall we? #SaveNetNeutrality\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cPai starts by claiming the internet was free & open before we had #TitleII #NetNeutrality rules -- conveniently forgetting ISPs would violate open internet principles when it suited them: https://t.co/7iGcZVDvru\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cHe insists that startups will be just fine without #NetNeutrality, even tho hundreds of startups rallied to oppose Pai's plan & preserve #TitleII: https://t.co/Zh1mNJHLXp and https://t.co/oQ4iI8wH1c\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cOnce again Pai ignores the long history of ISPs violating #NetNeutrality. He argues transparency & public shame will save us from bad behavior.\n\nIf public shame isn't enough to stop the @FCC, a public agency, why would it stop Comcast?\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201c@FCC Pai is flat-out wrong on investment under #NetNeutrality. I've written about this before: https://t.co/uBRRQPng8X If you're tired of my ranting, @businessinsider also wrote this up today: https://t.co/f7yg8sy7jX\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cUnless Pai's enormous Reese's mug doubles as a crystal ball, there's no way for him to know what ISPs will do if #NetNeutrality rules are scrapped. They COULD charge premiums, and if they DO, his @FCC will have abdicated all responsibility to help you.\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cPai just wants to protect competition! Help the little guy! Except the little guys want real #NetNeutrality rules: https://t.co/a86F21AmrY and https://t.co/KeouT1vh4L\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cYeesh, this one is messy. Under #TitleII #NetNeutrality rules, ISPs have already been rapidly deploying better/faster broadband: https://t.co/Bn5V07E9Xt And since when has giving monopoly ISPs more power led to cheaper prices for consumers?\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cAlas yes, that Portugal graphic isn't what you think it is: https://t.co/Kev0psFcd6 BUT he's lying about "curated services" -- mass market ISPs like Comcast currently can't offer such bundles. Pai's #NetNeutrality repeal would let them.\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cInnovation at the edge (anyone on the internet who isn't an ISP) has flourished under #TitleII: https://t.co/k7DWdfdXKl Also, ISPs have repeatedly told investors that #NetNeutrality rules haven't hurt them AT ALL: https://t.co/wkY8rSTrx2\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cNope again. Pai's GOP buddies are working hard to undermine the @FTC as well: https://t.co/AXZDUrDHQX This isn't about protecting #broadbandprivacy under "proper" authority, it's about ensuring NO authority. #NetNeutrality\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cLet me say this again for the people in the back:\n\nBroadband deployment has flourished under #TitleII #NetNeutrality. That means better, faster networks. \n\nAnd if Pai actually cared about the digital divide, he wouldn't be gutting #Lifeline.\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511894179
\u201cWho are you going to believe, a Trump-appointed chairman hellbent on destroying #NetNeutrality, or the FTC commissioner who testified before Congress that the FTC can't protect the open internet alone? @TMcSweenyFTC https://t.co/sEo3BCEYgd\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511894316
\u201cThis one's my favorite. \n\n"We don't care that you like #NetNeutrality & also don't like how you said it & also you're just a bunch of Russian bots."\n\nFirst of all, those bots? They're the only ones opposing #NetNeutrality: https://t.co/xVlOvIuL1U\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511894560
\u201cAnd if Pai is so worried about fake comments, why won't he cooperate w/ @AGSchneiderman's investigation? https://t.co/2d1b91Gt3o #NetNeutrality\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511894755
\u201cLast one, still no cigar. #NetNeutrality rules have been held up in court before & Pai is fudging the impact of the SCOTUS decision by suggesting they endorsed his anti-#TitleII stance. SCOTUS upheld agency discretion, not Pai's bogus plan.\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511895119
\u201cFINI.\n\nIf you're also angry about Chairman Pai trying to gaslight the public re: #NetNeutrality, here's some suggestions:\n\nRead up: https://t.co/d6nZTyta7Q\nGet involved: https://t.co/fjdLBbPJZO\nAnd maybe lend @freepress a hand this #GivingTuesday?https://t.co/HVS0SdNy8C\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511895239
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Dana Floberg
Dana Floberg is a policy manager for Free Press Action. Follow her on Twitter: @dana_flo
Which shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Since Pai first hinted at his intention to gut the open internet, he's been roundly condemned by countless activists, small businesses, media makers and politicians -- not to mention millions of commenters. Net Neutrality is the First Amendment of the internet, and the internet has shown up to defend it.
But it turns out Chairman Pai is too thin-skinned to take the heat. Instead of listening to Net Neutrality supporters and abandoning his overwhelmingly unpopular plan to repeal the rules, Pai's office released an explainer to separate Net Neutrality "myths" from the "facts".
There's just one problem: All of Pai's "myths" are real, and all of his "facts" are twisted.
At Free Press, we're used to calling out Pai's lies for what they are. So today on Twitter, that's exactly what we did:
\u201cChairman Pai just released a #NetNeutrality explainer that denigrates serious public concerns as "myths" & presents his own lies as "facts."\n\nLet's break down exactly why this is nonsense, shall we? #SaveNetNeutrality\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cPai starts by claiming the internet was free & open before we had #TitleII #NetNeutrality rules -- conveniently forgetting ISPs would violate open internet principles when it suited them: https://t.co/7iGcZVDvru\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cHe insists that startups will be just fine without #NetNeutrality, even tho hundreds of startups rallied to oppose Pai's plan & preserve #TitleII: https://t.co/Zh1mNJHLXp and https://t.co/oQ4iI8wH1c\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cOnce again Pai ignores the long history of ISPs violating #NetNeutrality. He argues transparency & public shame will save us from bad behavior.\n\nIf public shame isn't enough to stop the @FCC, a public agency, why would it stop Comcast?\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201c@FCC Pai is flat-out wrong on investment under #NetNeutrality. I've written about this before: https://t.co/uBRRQPng8X If you're tired of my ranting, @businessinsider also wrote this up today: https://t.co/f7yg8sy7jX\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cUnless Pai's enormous Reese's mug doubles as a crystal ball, there's no way for him to know what ISPs will do if #NetNeutrality rules are scrapped. They COULD charge premiums, and if they DO, his @FCC will have abdicated all responsibility to help you.\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cPai just wants to protect competition! Help the little guy! Except the little guys want real #NetNeutrality rules: https://t.co/a86F21AmrY and https://t.co/KeouT1vh4L\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cYeesh, this one is messy. Under #TitleII #NetNeutrality rules, ISPs have already been rapidly deploying better/faster broadband: https://t.co/Bn5V07E9Xt And since when has giving monopoly ISPs more power led to cheaper prices for consumers?\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cAlas yes, that Portugal graphic isn't what you think it is: https://t.co/Kev0psFcd6 BUT he's lying about "curated services" -- mass market ISPs like Comcast currently can't offer such bundles. Pai's #NetNeutrality repeal would let them.\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cInnovation at the edge (anyone on the internet who isn't an ISP) has flourished under #TitleII: https://t.co/k7DWdfdXKl Also, ISPs have repeatedly told investors that #NetNeutrality rules haven't hurt them AT ALL: https://t.co/wkY8rSTrx2\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cNope again. Pai's GOP buddies are working hard to undermine the @FTC as well: https://t.co/AXZDUrDHQX This isn't about protecting #broadbandprivacy under "proper" authority, it's about ensuring NO authority. #NetNeutrality\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cLet me say this again for the people in the back:\n\nBroadband deployment has flourished under #TitleII #NetNeutrality. That means better, faster networks. \n\nAnd if Pai actually cared about the digital divide, he wouldn't be gutting #Lifeline.\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511894179
\u201cWho are you going to believe, a Trump-appointed chairman hellbent on destroying #NetNeutrality, or the FTC commissioner who testified before Congress that the FTC can't protect the open internet alone? @TMcSweenyFTC https://t.co/sEo3BCEYgd\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511894316
\u201cThis one's my favorite. \n\n"We don't care that you like #NetNeutrality & also don't like how you said it & also you're just a bunch of Russian bots."\n\nFirst of all, those bots? They're the only ones opposing #NetNeutrality: https://t.co/xVlOvIuL1U\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511894560
\u201cAnd if Pai is so worried about fake comments, why won't he cooperate w/ @AGSchneiderman's investigation? https://t.co/2d1b91Gt3o #NetNeutrality\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511894755
\u201cLast one, still no cigar. #NetNeutrality rules have been held up in court before & Pai is fudging the impact of the SCOTUS decision by suggesting they endorsed his anti-#TitleII stance. SCOTUS upheld agency discretion, not Pai's bogus plan.\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511895119
\u201cFINI.\n\nIf you're also angry about Chairman Pai trying to gaslight the public re: #NetNeutrality, here's some suggestions:\n\nRead up: https://t.co/d6nZTyta7Q\nGet involved: https://t.co/fjdLBbPJZO\nAnd maybe lend @freepress a hand this #GivingTuesday?https://t.co/HVS0SdNy8C\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511895239
Dana Floberg
Dana Floberg is a policy manager for Free Press Action. Follow her on Twitter: @dana_flo
Which shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Since Pai first hinted at his intention to gut the open internet, he's been roundly condemned by countless activists, small businesses, media makers and politicians -- not to mention millions of commenters. Net Neutrality is the First Amendment of the internet, and the internet has shown up to defend it.
But it turns out Chairman Pai is too thin-skinned to take the heat. Instead of listening to Net Neutrality supporters and abandoning his overwhelmingly unpopular plan to repeal the rules, Pai's office released an explainer to separate Net Neutrality "myths" from the "facts".
There's just one problem: All of Pai's "myths" are real, and all of his "facts" are twisted.
At Free Press, we're used to calling out Pai's lies for what they are. So today on Twitter, that's exactly what we did:
\u201cChairman Pai just released a #NetNeutrality explainer that denigrates serious public concerns as "myths" & presents his own lies as "facts."\n\nLet's break down exactly why this is nonsense, shall we? #SaveNetNeutrality\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cPai starts by claiming the internet was free & open before we had #TitleII #NetNeutrality rules -- conveniently forgetting ISPs would violate open internet principles when it suited them: https://t.co/7iGcZVDvru\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cHe insists that startups will be just fine without #NetNeutrality, even tho hundreds of startups rallied to oppose Pai's plan & preserve #TitleII: https://t.co/Zh1mNJHLXp and https://t.co/oQ4iI8wH1c\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cOnce again Pai ignores the long history of ISPs violating #NetNeutrality. He argues transparency & public shame will save us from bad behavior.\n\nIf public shame isn't enough to stop the @FCC, a public agency, why would it stop Comcast?\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201c@FCC Pai is flat-out wrong on investment under #NetNeutrality. I've written about this before: https://t.co/uBRRQPng8X If you're tired of my ranting, @businessinsider also wrote this up today: https://t.co/f7yg8sy7jX\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cUnless Pai's enormous Reese's mug doubles as a crystal ball, there's no way for him to know what ISPs will do if #NetNeutrality rules are scrapped. They COULD charge premiums, and if they DO, his @FCC will have abdicated all responsibility to help you.\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cPai just wants to protect competition! Help the little guy! Except the little guys want real #NetNeutrality rules: https://t.co/a86F21AmrY and https://t.co/KeouT1vh4L\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cYeesh, this one is messy. Under #TitleII #NetNeutrality rules, ISPs have already been rapidly deploying better/faster broadband: https://t.co/Bn5V07E9Xt And since when has giving monopoly ISPs more power led to cheaper prices for consumers?\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cAlas yes, that Portugal graphic isn't what you think it is: https://t.co/Kev0psFcd6 BUT he's lying about "curated services" -- mass market ISPs like Comcast currently can't offer such bundles. Pai's #NetNeutrality repeal would let them.\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cInnovation at the edge (anyone on the internet who isn't an ISP) has flourished under #TitleII: https://t.co/k7DWdfdXKl Also, ISPs have repeatedly told investors that #NetNeutrality rules haven't hurt them AT ALL: https://t.co/wkY8rSTrx2\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cNope again. Pai's GOP buddies are working hard to undermine the @FTC as well: https://t.co/AXZDUrDHQX This isn't about protecting #broadbandprivacy under "proper" authority, it's about ensuring NO authority. #NetNeutrality\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511893926
\u201cLet me say this again for the people in the back:\n\nBroadband deployment has flourished under #TitleII #NetNeutrality. That means better, faster networks. \n\nAnd if Pai actually cared about the digital divide, he wouldn't be gutting #Lifeline.\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511894179
\u201cWho are you going to believe, a Trump-appointed chairman hellbent on destroying #NetNeutrality, or the FTC commissioner who testified before Congress that the FTC can't protect the open internet alone? @TMcSweenyFTC https://t.co/sEo3BCEYgd\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511894316
\u201cThis one's my favorite. \n\n"We don't care that you like #NetNeutrality & also don't like how you said it & also you're just a bunch of Russian bots."\n\nFirst of all, those bots? They're the only ones opposing #NetNeutrality: https://t.co/xVlOvIuL1U\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511894560
\u201cAnd if Pai is so worried about fake comments, why won't he cooperate w/ @AGSchneiderman's investigation? https://t.co/2d1b91Gt3o #NetNeutrality\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511894755
\u201cLast one, still no cigar. #NetNeutrality rules have been held up in court before & Pai is fudging the impact of the SCOTUS decision by suggesting they endorsed his anti-#TitleII stance. SCOTUS upheld agency discretion, not Pai's bogus plan.\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511895119
\u201cFINI.\n\nIf you're also angry about Chairman Pai trying to gaslight the public re: #NetNeutrality, here's some suggestions:\n\nRead up: https://t.co/d6nZTyta7Q\nGet involved: https://t.co/fjdLBbPJZO\nAnd maybe lend @freepress a hand this #GivingTuesday?https://t.co/HVS0SdNy8C\u201d— Dana Floberg (@Dana Floberg) 1511895239
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