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The FCC's Republican majority approved the change to help small providers avoid "onerous reporting obligations" included in the 2015 net neutrality order, they said.But by setting the threshold at250,000 subscribers and exempting small ISPs owned by larger companies,the FCC is effectively "exempt[ing] billion-dollar public companies" from rules that can be complied with in mere hourseach year, said Mignon Clyburn, the FCC's only Democrat.

The commission's 2015 order temporarily exempted ISPs with 100,000 or fewer subscribers from the so-called enhanced transparency requirements, but that exemption expired in December 2016. Clyburn said she would support reinstating the exemption for ISPs with 100,000 or fewer subscribers, but shedissented from today's order.

The250,000-subscriber exemption won't apply to the top broadband providers such as Comcast, Charter, AT&T, Verizon, and others. But it will exempt many ISPs owned by conglomerates, Clyburn said.

"Many of the nations largest broadband providers are actually holding companies, comprisedof many smaller operating companies," Clyburn said. "So what todays Order does is exempt these companies affiliates that have under 250,000 connections by declining to aggregate the connection count atthe holding company level."

The originalexemption for ISPs with 100,000 or fewer subscribers was applied to the aggregated total of subscribers "across all affiliates," so that small ISPs owned by big holding companies wouldn't be exempt. That changed today, according to Clyburn.

The White House's Office of Management and Budget found that complying with the transparency rule enhancements "would take each broadband provider 6.8 hoursannually," Clyburn said. The exemption will withhold important information about prices, including promotional rates, fees, and surcharges from about 9.7 million subscribers, Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said today.

The enhanced transparency rules expand upon rules first implemented in 2010.To comply with the enhanced rules, home Internet providers and cellular carriers must make public disclosures that include the following:

The new rules also require ISPs to disclose more information about network performance, including packet loss statistics.

Pai said he offered a compromise to Clyburn, but he declined to say what his proposed compromise included. A spokesperson for Clyburn told Ars that the compromise would haverequired all ISPs of any size to report "commercial terms" such as prices, fees, and data caps publicly. But it also would have made ISPs with as many as 500,000 subscribers exempt from other requirements. That means many more ISPs would have been able to avoid reporting network performance statistics that can help customers assesswhether a network will be reliable.

"Commissioner Clyburn could simply not support a proposal that would have potentially left millions of additional consumers without transparency protections," the spokesperson said.

Before the vote, Clyburn made a plea to ISPs: "If you and your companies have the resources,then do the right thing, be transparent with consumers about what prices you charge, what feesyou assess, what data caps you impose, and your network performance practices. Yourcustomers, I am confident, will thank you."

Pai argued that requiring ISPs to "devote scarce resources" to filling out paperwork instead of deploying broadband is "not in the interest of the consumer."

"Ourdecision today will help the country's smaller providers... better serve their communities," Pai said. "I firmly believe that these ISPsshould spend their limited capital building out better broadband to rural America, not hiring lawyers and accountants to fill out unnecessary paperwork demanded by Washington, DC. With this action, the small businesses that are critical to injecting competition into the broadband marketplace will be better able to do just that."

Pai also supports overturningthe FCC's net neutrality order, which could wipe out the transparency requirements for providers of all sizes.

The FCC did take action to boost broadband deployment today in two bipartisan votes. One vote will provide $453 million in annual support to carriers over ten years to expand and improve 4G LTE mobile coverage in rural and tribal areas. This is a continuation of the FCC's Mobility Fund, which was created in 2011. The money will be distributed in an auction-style format to boost coverage "where the market cant sustain or extend service absent government support."

The FCC today also voted on rules for an upcoming reverse auction that will provide a total of nearly $2 billion over 10 years to expand home Internet service in rural areas.

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FCC lets billion-dollar ISPs hide fees and data caps, Democrat says - Ars Technica

Thomas Weida, a retired Helena resident, announced he will seek the Democratic nomination for the seat occupied by Montana's lone U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke.

Weida, the eighth Democrat to make the announcement, said he decided to run after he realized Montanas core values are being threatened by party politics.

Rep. Ryan Zinke is waiting to be confirmed as President Donald Trumps nominee for interior secretary. If confirmed, Zinke will resign and the state will hold a special election in the following 100 days to choose a replacement.

The parties will hold a convention to select a candidate, with county-level committee members from each party deciding who runs in the special election.

Weida was raised in Deer Lodge and graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Montana in 1996. He has worked in management at UPS and later in construction and sales, which he said exposed him to the issues facing small business owners in the state.

Weida is the first to admit he lacks political experience and would have a lot to learn if elected. But hes confident in his ability to stand up for Montanans and make their voices heard as the states lone congressional representative.

Heres the thing. I dont think Im the most qualified politician for Montana, he said. I think I have chosen to live in this state and turned down better offers to move because I love the state and I love being part of the fabric.

He said he thinks most Montanans agree on core issues, such as keeping public lands public and creating good-paying jobs. He said hell also advocate for protecting social programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

During the general election, many Republican constituents said they wanted an administration without career politicians and Weida said he thinks Democrats are also guilty of electing candidates to advance the party or who have been putting the same ideas forward.

Its been too much of the same, he said. Ive watched for the last nine elections as Democrats have put up candidates that make them feel good and feel good about themselves, but they dont work when it comes to a statewide election.

With only one representative in Montana, Weida said he can be the candidate that looks sensibly at the whole state and will prioritize the people over the party.

You cant play party politics when youre talking about one representative for an entire state, he said. 'Majority rules, minority rights' is a phrase I really believe in.

When asked what kind of specific solutions he had to major issues, such as health care, Weida said he was unsure.

The straight answer is none, he said. What I can say is Im vocal and accessible.

Weida said he wants to be able to tell his 14-year-old daughter he did everything in his power to protect the states values.

I want to pass on a state I was able to grow up in, he said.

Weida is hosting an event at Millers Crossing in Helena at 5 p.m. Monday to meet constituents and answer questions.

Other Democrats interested in the seat include state Rep. Amanda Curtis of Butte, state Rep. Kelly McCarthy of Billings, attorney John Meyer of Bozeman, musician Rob Quist of Creston, Gary Stein of Missoula, Link Neimark of Whitefish and Dan West of Missoula.

Republicans who are interested include former gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte of Bozeman, former Republican chairman Ken Miller of laurel, Dean Rehbein of Missoula, Sen. Ed Buttrey of Great Falls, Rep. Carl Glimm of Kila and Drew Turiano of East Helena.

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Helena Democrat Weida to join race for Zinke's seat - Helena Independent Record

On February 21and 22, the Morton County Sheriffs Department evacuated the remaining water protectors protesting the Dakota Access Pipelineat Standing Rock. Though several Democrats praised the Army Corps of Engineers decision on December 4 to conduct an environmental impact assessment, they have been silenton the issue since construction of the pipeline has moved forward under the Trumpadministration. The decision to stop the pipeline is now in the hands of the courts, as the Standing Rock Sioux tribe attempts to force the Army Corps of Engineers to enforce their December 4, 2016, decision.

The water protectors at Standing Rock faced a barrage of smear campaignsfrom the Morton County Sheriffs Department and companies in charge of the pipeline construction. At the behest of pipeline security, they were attacked by dogs, pepper sprayed, tear gassed and hosed with water in subfreezing temperatures. Some protectors suffered severe injuries, including a 21-year-old girl who nearly lost her arm due to police throwing a concussion grenade at the peaceful protesters. Nevertheless, theDemocraticestablishment failed to acknowledge the protests. The mainstream medialargely avoided the conflict as well, basing their limited coverageon the issue solely on law enforcementsources. Throughout the water protectors protests, establishment Democratsstood up for Standing Rock onlyafter a small victory was achieved.

The Democrat Party, an ostensible ally, continuously offersweak opposition to the Republican Party and corporate powers that oppress and infringe on human rights.

The Democratic establishments resistance to Trump ignoreshis policies that dont providepolitical expediency, like the Dakota Access Pipeline. Thoughthe battle against the pipeline lasted months, very few Democrats spoke out. Sen.Bernie Sandersand Rep.Tulsi Gabbardwere the greatest opponents of the pipeline. Supposedly progressive icon Sen.Elizabeth Warren, who claims Cherokee heritage, largely ignored the issueapartfromDecember 4, 2016, when she tried to take credit for the protesters small victory.

The Democratic Party not only needs to mobilize againstTrumpit needs to fightfor marginalized groups, like Native Americans. But instead, the Democraticestablishment is tryingto restore political power without making reforms. They continue to partner with wealthy and corporate donors andrefuse to join progressives on key issues.

Sandershasreiteratedthat the Democratic Party cannot market the interests of billionaires and Wall Street while also representing working class, middle class, and low income Americans. Democratsmustchoose a side. Unfortunately, when given the opportunity, they consistently side withtheir donors, who aredeeply invested in the Dakota Access Pipeline.

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Democrats Silent on Dakota Access Pipeline - Observer

New York Times

At Democrat's 'Listening Session,' Concern About Trump, Minus the Jeers New York Times Credit Lauren Justice for The New York Times. LA CROSSE, Wis. Representative Ron Kind stood in front of the crowd gathered at an American Legion post in his district in western Wisconsin and listened. As a Democrat in the House minority, that is ... and more »

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At Democrat's 'Listening Session,' Concern About Trump, Minus the Jeers - New York Times

Renee C. Byer/Sacramento Bee via ZUMA

I forgot about this until Rachel Maddow mentioned it on her show last night:

A Democrat on the Federal Election Commission is quitting her term early because of the gridlock that has gripped the panel, offering President Trump an unexpected chance to shape political spending rules.

The commissioner, Ann M. Ravel, said during an interview that she would send Mr. Trump her letter of resignation this week. She pointed to a series of deadlocked votes between the panels three Democrats and three Republicans that she said left her little hope the group would ever be able to rein in campaign finance abuses.

The ability of the commission to perform its role has deteriorated significantly, said Ms. Ravel, who has sparred bitterly with the Republican election commissioners during her three years on the panel. She added, I think I can be more effective on the outside.

Ravel is not the first Democrat to resign a post early after Trump's election win. SEC Chair Mary Jo White is another high-profile Democrat who's resigned, and there have been several others as well.

Why? With Republicans in control of everything, isn't this precisely the time when Democrats should want to retain as much power as they can muster for as long as they can? Ravel's resignation will break the FEC's frequent deadlocks, but it will break them by almost certainly giving Republicans total control over election policy. This is precisely the thing that Ravel has been fighting against the past three years.

I don't get it. What am I missing here?

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Another Democrat Hands Over the Reins to Republicans - Mother Jones