The head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Ajit Pai appeared before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Thursday, where he was harangued about an attempt he made to produce a viral video with a far-right publication.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) accused the FCC Chairman of showing “contempt” for the public.
“You mocked those who disagreed with you in what I think was an ill-advised attempt at what you might think is humor,” Leahy said.
Last December, Pai starred in a video produced by the Washington, D.C.-based publication The Daily Caller. In the feature, Pai donned several different outfits and props, and mocked critics who opposed his plans to repeal Net Neutrality regulations.
Dancing alongside Pai during a portion of the video was Martina Markota, an alt-right figure who had previously pushed claims that a D.C. pizza shop was a secret child sex ring—a conspiracy known as “Pizzagate.”
“Perhaps appearances at partisan political events or posting insulting videos with alt-right activists will ingratiate you to President Trump,” Leahy told Pai on Thursday.
The senator also brought up the pending demise of Net Neutrality regulations, which barred internet service providers from discriminating against certain types of online content.
Under Pai, the FCC voted in December to repeal the 2015 regulation known as the Open Internet Order. The rules formally expire on June 11.
The FCC Chairman has repeatedly stated that the removal of Net Neutrality will give way to increased private investment that will expand internet access to the underserved, and lower prices. Leahy asked for proof.
“We know the number will be higher who have access,” Pai claimed. He noted actions the FCC had taken to expand access that were unrelated to Net Neutrality repeal.
Pai also pointed to an “uptick in last year alone” of capital expenditures, during which Net Neutrality rules were still in effect.
Once the regulations expire next month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will be charged with enforcement actions against ISP’s for “deceptive or unfair acts or practices involving their broadband services.”
FTC Chairman Joseph Simons also testified before the committee Thursday. He was pressed by Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) about future enforcement actions the agency could take to preserve a free and open internet.
“Would you agree that paid prioritization, blocking, throttling, practices by ISP’s that may advantage or disadvantage access to particular parts of the internet could be seen as unfair practices?” Coons asked.
“Under the right circumstances, yes,” Simon replied.
The Senate did attempt to preserve Net Neutrality regulations this week. Under the Congressional Review Act, the upper chamber narrowly passed legislation on Wednesday to repeal Ajit Pai’s dismantling of the Open Internet Order.
The legislation, however, stands little change of passing the Republican-controlled House.
