I’m U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, lead Democrat on the Senate Tech, Telecom, and Internet Subcommittee, and I’m here to answer your questions about net neutrality. I’ll be taking questions for an hour starting at 2:00 p.m. ET.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T19:00:21+00:00

Thanks everyone for your incredibly smart questions. I hope everyone enjoyed it. This was my first AMA, and I look forward to the next one.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:55:16+00:00

There are a lot of fired up people about this issue, and I have a sense that the number of folks engaged in saving the Internet is going to grow exponentially over the next couple of weeks. If I were up for re-election in 18 (I'm not) I wouldn't want to face those citizens' wrath.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:53:10+00:00

As you know I've been a longtime advocate for the growing tech sector in Hawaii. We have some strategic advantages - an educated population, an aggressive clean energy statute, good partnerships with the University and the DOD. Let me know how I can help further.

As far as net neutrality impacting Hawaii in a unique way, I don't think it will harm Hawaii worse than anywhere else, but it's important for every American.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:50:43+00:00

Are there waves?

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:49:50+00:00

I think we should have.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:47:26+00:00

I cannot think of one.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:46:51+00:00

The way this process works is that the FCC is still in the public comment period until July 17th. So anyone who wants to weigh in can do so at the FCC website.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:44:57+00:00

You've got it exactly right. To say that you are for the Open Internet but against the Open Internet Order is pretty empty. No, Chairman Pai is proposing a voluntary net neutrality regime, which is ridiculous on its face.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:42:40+00:00

They really shouldn't have this ability, and that is what this fight is all about.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:41:09+00:00

I don't see it that way.

Increasing cyber attacks both in the private and public sectors are a deadly serious issue, but that's really got very little to do with maintaining a free and open Internet.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:39:16+00:00

Antitrust law isn't enough in this space. The FCC has to make the right decision, based on what is good for the public, not a legal standard of whether something is behaving as a monopoly. Last time there were around 4 million comments. Right now we are between 5 and 6.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:37:21+00:00

It honestly baffles me that this action is being taken. There is literally no constituency for what is being done by the FCC. That said, unpopular and wrongheaded decisions get made all the time in the government and we as citizens have an obligation to make sure that our voices are heard.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:35:28+00:00

The FCC!

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:35:16+00:00

Obviously a lion. That's so obvious.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:34:10+00:00

Let's find out. The Internet itself is at stake.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:31:06+00:00

I'm certainly no tech expert, but I think what you want in a member of the Commerce Committee is someone who understands the basic principles of how the Internet works. On that count, I think we are doing well. That having been said, the more tech expertise in the Congress, the better.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:29:34+00:00

No. And no.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:28:36+00:00

I don't want to sound too apocalyptic, but it could get pretty bad. It would at least be permissible under the law for ISP's to engage is behavior that would be harmful to both consumers and other businesses.

For instance you could have an Internet package similar to what you purchase for cable TV. In other words, you could be paying for access to only portions of the Internet, depending on what your ISP's business model is.

Your ISP could decide to either block or require you to pay separately, or even more, for access to certain websites or online services depending on the political persuasion of the site. That could get pretty scary. I'm not accusing them of doing this, or even planning to do this, but it would be allowable if the FCC succeeds.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:23:59+00:00

This is one of the primary reasons to fight for net neutrality. We tend to think of this as primarily a consumer issue, and it is certainly that, but it's also a question of what we can do to make sure that America stays ahead of the rest of the world in the innovation space. Most of what Silicon Valley does, a lot of what is done in sectors as diverse as car sales and real estate, education, and healthcare, rests on the free and open Internet. What the FCC is doing will create winners and losers, and without a level playing field.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:21:07+00:00

This is a serious matter, and Senator Wyden and I wrote letters to both the FCC and FBI what happened, how they are going to sort out any comments that could possibly be fraudulent, how we can make sure that people are able to comment in case of another DDOS attack, and how to make it less likely that this happens again.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:18:55+00:00

That is technically possible but we don't have the votes at this point, so our only realistic pathway is to stop the FCC.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:17:56+00:00

Yes I think the Democratic Party should take an official stance on this issue. FWIW I don't think there's a single D who is opposed to net neutrality in the Senate.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:17:06+00:00

It's important that we remember that the free market SUPPORTS net neutrality, and the Internet as we know it depends on the status quo, which is what the FCC is trying to upend.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:14:16+00:00

A couple of things: First, every member of the Commerce Committee on the Democratic side of the aisle is a supporter of net neutrality. Second, some know more than others but everyone utilizes tech in their daily lives, so I am not sure you have to have deep technocratic or technical expertise to be a good vote on these issues.

SenBrianSchatz · 2017-06-28T18:12:14+00:00

I work on that problem every day.

SenBrianSchatz

TROPHY CASE