GAO to Probe Fake Comments Sent to FCC on Net Neutrality

The Government Accountability Office will investigate fake comments filed to the Federal Communications Commission in advance of the vote to roll back net neutrality, The Hill is reporting. 

The move came after Democratic Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York, Elijah Cummings of Maryland and Frank Pallone of New Jersey had spearheaded a bid to get the GAO to look into it.

"We are writing to request the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigate and report on the extent and pervasiveness of fraud and the misuse of American identities during federal rulemaking processes, including for example, the net neutrality rulemaking process used by the Federal Communication Commission," the three said in a letter to the GAO.

The Hill noted there were questions raised about the authenticity about a large amount of net neutrality comments, mostly in support of tossing out the regulations.

Some lawmakers had asked the FCC to postpone its December vote. The FCC declined and said its vote to get rid of the rules was based on "substantive legal and public policy questions."

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