FCC Receives Fraudulent Comments

[TheBigA]

In 2017, the FCC repealed net neutrality rules. Before it did, it requested online comments, and received 22 million. However, the NYS attorney general found that 18 million of those comments were fake:

New York investigation reveals paid campaign to flood FCC with fake net neutrality comments

New York's attorney general says the broadband industry's $4.2M comment campaign led to 8.5M fake comments.

www.axios.com

BTW this is not uncommon. It happens a lot when agencies seek comments. Agencies don't make decisions based on the number of comments they receive. It's not like voting, where the opinion with the most comments wins.

 

[Kelly A]

Imagine, fake comments from something related to Internet regulation?? (tongue in cheek)

 

[TheBigA]

Imagine, fake comments from something related to Internet regulation?? (tongue in cheek)

Exactly. The folks at Fox News are gloating because some of the fake comments originated from Comcast, owner of MSNBC.

Some people think big tech is the enemy, but that's because they haven't dealt with big telecom.

 

[Mikey Radio]

BTW this is not uncommon. It happens a lot when agencies seek comments. Agencies don't make decisions based on the number of comments they receive. It's not like voting, where the opinion with the most comments wins.

Imagine, fake comments from something related to Internet regulation?? (tongue in cheek)

This does raise a question, though. When the FCC opens a comment period, do they even seriously review them or care? Do they look at how many positive vs. negative comments they got? Do the commissioners or those involved in various cases get a "cross section" of comments given to them with at least bullet points of the most frequently made comments?

I raised a somewhat related question in another discussion thread a while ago, but I'm not sure I saw an answer - What happens when the FCC or FTC gets a complaint about a large provider like Comcast that most likely receives dozens of complaints per day, for instance. I'm guessing they don't have time or ability to follow up on each one? Do they just roll their eyes and say "Meh, it's Comcast again" or do they just look at number of complaints per day or per week for a particular company? Do they track trends to figure out what most complaints pertain to?

 

[Kelly A]

This does raise a question, though. When the FCC opens a comment period, do they even seriously review them or care? Do they look at how many positive vs. negative comments they got? Do the commissioners or those involved in various cases get a "cross section" of comments given to them with at least bullet points of the most frequently made comments?

There are "staff" tasked with reviewing and summarizing filed comments. A summary report is prepared and sent to Commissioners after being reviewed by lawyers.

I raised a somewhat related question in another discussion thread a while ago, but I'm not sure I saw an answer - What happens when the FCC or FTC gets a complaint about a large provider like Comcast that most likely receives dozens of complaints per day, for instance. I'm guessing they don't have time or ability to follow up on each one? Do they just roll their eyes and say "Meh, it's Comcast again" or do they just look at number of complaints per day or per week for a particular company? Do they track trends to figure out what most complaints pertain to?

My understanding is staff look for complaint patterns and how 'articulate' and clear the complaint is. They might get a slew of complaints about a technician not making their appointment, but that's so commonplace, it probably wouldn't trigger any investigation or action by either agency. Many times the squeaky wheel is when some complainant/constituent manages to get the ear of some Senator or Congressperson. If the lawmaker's staff makes an inquiry to the agency, many times that complaint gets more immediate attention by the agency. In other words; these agencies know where their bread is buttered.

 

[Megatron]

Doesn't surprise me that comments to The FCC are fake and aren't legit either from The PTC & 10 Mom's, oh I mean 1 Million Moms that don't have 1 million members since they tell their members to file a baseless complaint. I know The PTC in 2013 said The FCC should take action on the fleeting swear words on TV and live events saying that the fake comments showed that the FCC should fine the networks for fleeting swear words which they shouldn't. I believe those that file complaints to the FCC have too much time on their hands.