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).