Consumer Bureau Chief Appoints Open Internet Ombudsperson

Media Contact:

Will Wiquist, 202-418-0509

will.wiquist@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

CONSUMER BUREAU CHIEF APPOINTS OMBUDSPERSON FOR OPEN

INTERNET QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS

Experienced Attorney and Consumer Advocate to

Help Consumers & Businesses Engage on Net Neutrality

--

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2015 - Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Chief Alison

Kutler today appointed Parul P. Desai to serve as the Open Internet ombudsperson, the public's

primary point of contact within the agency for formal and informal questions and complaints

related to the Open Internet rules.

Ms. Desai serves as Assistant Bureau Chief and Director of Consumer Engagement in the

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB). Prior to that, she was Policy Counsel for

media, telecommunications and technology policy at Consumers Union and Vice President at

Media Access Project. She is a graduate of Rutgers University and New York Law School.

The Open Internet rules, adopted by the Commission on February 26, 2015 and effective as of

June 12, 2015, established an ombudsperson to assist consumers, businesses, and organizations

with open Internet complaints and questions by ensuring these parties have effective access to the

Commission's processes that protect their interests, and specified that the ombudsperson will be

housed in CGB, which is the agency's primary initial informal complaint intake point.

During the order's extended comment periods, a wide array of commenters expressed support for

the FCC's establishing this resource. As the ombudsperson, Ms. Desai will manage questions or

complaints regarding the Open Internet to ensure that small and often unrepresented groups reach

the appropriate bureaus and offices to address specific issues of concern. In addition, the Open

Internet Order stated that the ombudsperson will work as a point of contact and a source of

assistance as needed, not as an advocate or as an officer who must be approached for approval.

The Ombudsperson can be reached at: ombudsperson@fcc.gov or 202-418-1155. To file a

complaint online, go to consumercomplaints.fcc.gov, click File a Complaint in the Internet

icon, and select Open Internet as the issue area. Complaints can also be submitted by phone at

1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322), TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322), and ASL

Videophone: 1-844-432-2275 or by mail.

To learn more about the FCC's Open Internet Rules, visit www.fcc.gov/openinternet. The text of

the Open Internet Report and Order is available here: http://go.usa.gov/3NjnB

###

Office of Media Relations: 202.418.0500

TTY: 888-835-5322

Twitter: @FCC

www.fcc.gov/office-media-relations

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order

constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).

LINK:	http://www.fcc.gov/document/consumer-bureau-chief-appoints-open-intern...
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