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FCC: Releasing 'Jokes' About Ajit Pai Colluding with Verizon Would 'Harm' Agency

35 points by alex_young 9y ago

Spivak 9y ago
This article literally proves the FCC's point. I wouldn't want to release it either when a ravenous horde will jump on any scrap to hang him and the FCC. I don't like their decisions as much of the next person but I'm not submitting a FOIA for what amounts to their correspondence dinner. The fact that the author thinks this issue is superserious is more a reflection on their demeanor than the FCC's.
- alex_young 9y ago
  FOIA doesn't have an it-looks-bad provision AFAIK. This was a dinner you paid for. Should be public unless there's some other valid reason.
  - Spivak 9y ago
    I'm not saying the request isn't valid. I'm saying that this journalist is fishing with a really long line.
    - Karunamon 9y ago
      Be that as it may, I don’t think intent (other than the request itself being made in good faith) enters into it. Barring legitimate national security interest (and that means a hell of a lot less nowadays!): Public pays for it, public should get to see the details.
      - cdaringe 9y ago
        Exactly.
moonka 9y ago
Things like this are exactly why there is a need for these transparency laws. If the jokes are so damning, maybe he should take his chairmanship a little more seriously and not make them.
hedora 9y ago
I got pissed off enough about this to switch away from Verizon. First I looked at Credo (hey, I’m a progressive!), but they only give 1% of their fees to charity, and they pay some undisclosed amount to Verizon. They cost about as much as Verizon, so it is unclear how much impact switching has. I settled on tracfone. They’re run by the #4 telco on earth. They clearly bought off the Mexican government, to at least the same extent as Verizon bought off the US govt. The difference is that I’m paying about $10 per line per month, vs. ~$40 with Verizon. I use the same phone, on the same network about as much as before, but, on two lines, I’m saving $60/month, which is certainly going to the EFF, independent journalism, and progressive political campaigns this year. Their customer service is not great, but is good enough, and I feel as dirty, per dollar, as I do paying Verizon. That’s a huge win overall. Tracfone let you choose between the T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon networks, and let you bring your own device. I hope this helps you hit them in the pocketbook too.

35 points by alex_young 9y ago

This article literally proves the FCC's point. I wouldn't want to release it either when a ravenous horde will jump on any scrap to hang him and the FCC. I don't like their decisions as much of the next person but I'm not submitting a FOIA for what amounts to their correspondence dinner. The fact that the author thinks this issue is superserious is more a reflection on their demeanor than the FCC's.

alex_young 9y ago
FOIA doesn't have an it-looks-bad provision AFAIK. This was a dinner you paid for. Should be public unless there's some other valid reason.
- Spivak 9y ago
  I'm not saying the request isn't valid. I'm saying that this journalist is fishing with a really long line.
  - Karunamon 9y ago
    Be that as it may, I don’t think intent (other than the request itself being made in good faith) enters into it. Barring legitimate national security interest (and that means a hell of a lot less nowadays!): Public pays for it, public should get to see the details.
    - cdaringe 9y ago
      Exactly.

moonka 9y ago

Things like this are exactly why there is a need for these transparency laws. If the jokes are so damning, maybe he should take his chairmanship a little more seriously and not make them.

hedora 9y ago

I got pissed off enough about this to switch away from Verizon. First I looked at Credo (hey, I’m a progressive!), but they only give 1% of their fees to charity, and they pay some undisclosed amount to Verizon. They cost about as much as Verizon, so it is unclear how much impact switching has. I settled on tracfone. They’re run by the #4 telco on earth. They clearly bought off the Mexican government, to at least the same extent as Verizon bought off the US govt. The difference is that I’m paying about $10 per line per month, vs. ~$40 with Verizon. I use the same phone, on the same network about as much as before, but, on two lines, I’m saving $60/month, which is certainly going to the EFF, independent journalism, and progressive political campaigns this year. Their customer service is not great, but is good enough, and I feel as dirty, per dollar, as I do paying Verizon. That’s a huge win overall. Tracfone let you choose between the T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon networks, and let you bring your own device. I hope this helps you hit them in the pocketbook too.