Today was supposed to be the deadline for filing comments with the FCC about its pending net neutrality proposal. But the Commission has just announced that, due to a surge in responses that is once again overwhelming its commenting system, the deadline has been extended to Friday.

“[W]e have seen an overwhelming surge in traffic on our website that is making it difficult for many people to file comments through our Electronic Comment
Filing System,” writes the FCC press secretary, who explains that the Commission “is committed to making sure that everyone trying to submit comments will have their views entered into the record.”

Thus, the deadline has been extended until midnight (presumably ET) Friday, July 18.

For those who haven’t filed their comment with the FCC but still want to do so, this article explains exactly what you need to do to make your voice heard.

“The fact that the FCC had to extend the deadline for comments shows how this issue has people fired up and demanding better rules,” explains Delara Derakhshani, our colleague and policy counsel for Consumers Union, which has written the FCC arguing for stronger neutrality rules. “The future of the Internet is at stake. Paid prioritization deals should be banned outright. The FCC should do everything within its power to ensure that the rules reflect the interests of all consumers, rather than those of a handful of large Internet service providers. The Internet must remain open, affordable, and available to everyone.

58% of respondents in a recent Consumer Reports survey said that fast lane agreements should not be allowed, while only 16% agreed that the government should allow such paid-priority arrangements.

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