Net neutrality supporter threatens to kill congressman

A Syracuse man has been charged with threatening to kill a U.S. congressman in an ominous call to the offices of Republican Rep. John Katko in upstate New York.

Although he at first denied making the calls, the FBI says Angelo later admitted that he contacted the lawmaker because, according to the complaint, he was "upset" about the potential repeal of net neutrality rules, enacted under President Obama, that prohibit internet service providers like Comcast, AT&T and Verizon from slowing or blocking certain websites while prioritizing sites that pay for fast lanes.

If convicted, Angelo faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the Justice Department. 

Katko's staff reported the voicemail to U.S. Capitol Police, who increased the lawmaker's security inside the beltway, the Justice Department said. FBI agents also notified the New York State Police and local law enforcement, who protect Katko's events in his home district, according to court documents.

"The Congressman and his family appreciate the diligent work of our local, state and federal law enforcement in monitoring these threats and taking appropriate action," Katko's communications director said in a statement.

"I condemn in the strongest possible terms any attempts to intimidate government officials with violent threats, and in particular, efforts to target their families," FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement, adding that he, too, has been harassed over his efforts to repeal a 2015 net neutrality rule.

A former Verizon attorney, Pai has called net neutrality regulations "heavy-handed" and says repeal could allow internet providers to raise the funds to meet consumer demand for faster, cheaper internet.

But critics of a repeal say it could hamper equal access to all content on the internet while clearing the way for internet service companies to charge users more to see certain content and to curb access to some websites.