You Know Who Can Settle This Net Neutrality Thing Once and for All? Aerosmith Guitarist Joe Perry, That’s Who.
Tom Wheeler, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, is having a tough week. With the clock counting down to a crucial vote on his controversial net neutrality plan, Wheeler is scrambling to rally support. But he’s having difficulty finding any. Democratic FCC commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mignon Clyburn have both expressed concerns about the plan. Tech trade groups and venture capitalists are wringing their hands over it. And now the creative community is complaining as well. Late Tuesday a group of musicians, actors and authors sent Wheeler a letter asking him to reconsider his plan. Said the group — which includes “Portlandia”’s Fred Armisen, former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra, director Oliver Stone and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry: “Your proposed path would open the door to widespread discrimination online. It would give Internet service providers the green light to implement pay‐for‐priority schemes that would be disastrous for startups, nonprofits and everyday Internet users who cannot afford these unnecessary tolls.”