I am a private citizen and believe I am well-informed on the "Internet Freedom" issue.  I am not a "bot".

I understand Chairman Pai's fundamental philosophy, and his desire to remove regulations that may be impeding innovation by the major Internet vendors.  (Although some experts argue that previous policies have not affected their innovation).

But I believe the major Internet vendors will always operate in their economic interest, with very little concern for any "rights" or interests of their consumers.   In some cases those vendors' actions have been good for me.... I do not complain about broadband Internet for $50/month, or LTE wireless.  But I very much dread what they will do with my private data, and with my "right" to freely access all parts of the Internet, if all shackles are removed from them.

If there were more competition for Internet services, your approach would make more sense.  But in my neighborhood there is effectively only one viable option for broadband Internet.  If that vendor changed their policies to be detrimental to me, I have no real option to change to another vendor.    So although I will appreciate their disclosures of their practices, I am at their mercy.

I am very concerned that the new approach will completely pull the FCC away from any role of defending consumers in the Internet market.   If you don't do it, who will?  The FTC likely does not have sufficient knowledge, budget, regulatory power, or economic influence over the vendors to be able to effectively limit their worst instincts.  (And they will surely be sued by Verizon just like you were).

I supported Chairman Wheeler's regulatory approach as in fact "light-touch", threading a complex path through the Title I/II thicket.  I fear your new approach will be "zero touch", and will leave consumers completely at the mercy of the major vendors. (Who you are apparently allowing to grow even bigger and more powerful).

And I especially disagree with your move to limit the ability of state or local governments to defend consumers against these vendors.   If you don't want to take that role, fine, but preventing others from taking it makes me feel that you are truly only doing the bidding of the vendors.

I know my comment won't do anything to change your approach, but I hope it will make you feel bad about it.  I will have to fight the vendors in the public square, and I expect their actions will, in the long run, prove your position to be misguided.

David Beaver
Portola Valley, CA