The Federal Communications Commission’s website has crashed on the last day to submit comments on the US agency’s controversial proposal to regulate the internet.
The proposal at issue would allow internet providers to charge content companies for more direct connections to their customers. These so-called “fast lanes” have sparked a vehement reaction from internet activists, who claim that the new policy could turn the web into a plutocracy where companies that are willing to shell out cash receive premium treatment.
FCC chairman Tom Wheeler said the commission had received about 647,000 comments on the net neutrality proposal as of last week. Here’s a look at the number of comments submitted over time:
That spike at the beginning of June can be attributed to John Oliver, the comedian who went on a rant last month on his HBO show, urging users to submit comments to the FCC. The subsequent traffic crashed the FCC’s site last month.