WASHINGTON, June 3 (UPI) -- The FCC said its comments section for proposed net neutrality rules crashed after comedian John Oliver asked Internet trolls to flood the section with comments.
John Oliver, the host of HBO's Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, spoke at length about the Federal Communication Commission's proposed net neutrality rules Sunday night, which would possibly segment the Internet into high-speed and low-speed traffic lanes. Oliver asked Internet trolls, who he said are busy watching videos of dancing 3-year-olds, to turn their attention to the issue and flood the FCC's comments section.
"For once in your life, we need you to channel that anger, that badly spelled bile that you normally would reserve for unforgivable attacks on actresses you seem to think have put on weight, or politicians that you disagree with, or photos of your ex-girlfriend getting on with her life," Oliver pleaded to Internet commenters.
"We need you to get out there, and for once in your lives, focus your indiscriminate rage in a useful direction. Seize your moments, my lovely trolls. Turns on caps lock, and fly my pretties," he added.
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The FCC tweeted Monday that it was facing technical difficulties "due to heavy traffic."
We’ve been experiencing technical difficulties with our comment system due to heavy traffic. We’re working to resolve these issues quickly.
— The FCC (@FCC) June 2, 2014The proposed rules have the potential to reduce technological innovation related to the Internet and will put smaller startups at a disadvantage. The rules propose that companies be allowed to pay wireless providers for unhindered channels to stream their content, much to the anger of advocates who say this will impinge on the free and fair nature of the Internet.
According to television ratings from Nielsen, Oliver's show was watched by one million viewers in its first episode and the net neutrality clip has been viewed 700,000 times on YouTube.
