Allow adding an internal comment on a request

atst/forms/internal_comment.py

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from wtforms.fields import TextAreaField
-from wtforms.validators import Optional
+from wtforms.validators import InputRequired
 
 from .forms import ValidatedForm
 
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from .forms import ValidatedForm
 class InternalCommentForm(ValidatedForm):
     text = TextAreaField(
         "CCPO Internal Notes",
+        default="",
         description="Add comments or notes for internal CCPO reference and follow-up here.<strong>These comments <em>will not</em> be visible to the person making the JEDI request.</strong>",
-        validators=[Optional()],
+        validators=[InputRequired()],
     )