Net Neutrality: The Controversy

                    

When we go online, we have expectations that fall into a routine, that we can instantly be connected whenever we want, have free service and have access to have as much information we desire across the web. That is the concept of Net Neutrality, free internet, wherever, whenever. Net Neutrality has been the way the internet has functioned forever, and just in 2015 activists pressed the F.C.C. (Federal Communications Commission) to adopt Net Neutrality rules and keep them and the internet alive. But, in recent news, on Dec.14, 2017 the F.C.C.’s Republican party ignored society’s pleas and approved Chairman Ajit Pai’s plan to remove Net Neutrality protections.

What does a world without Net Neutrality look like? Imagine logging onto your favorite apps, refreshing the page and then it asks you to start paying monthly fees. Imagine simply making Google searches, but you are soon blocked until you conform to the outrageous additional fees just so you can look up something. The internet without Net Neutrality, is not even the internet anymore. Net Neutrality is the internet’s main principle, it give us the right to communicate, to have access to unlimited amounts of knowledge, and gives us the right of free speech. Without net neutrality, companies such as AT&T, Verizon, etc. are able to control what we see in the news, on apps, and alter so its only content that the companies agree with. Essentially, the fate of the internet was decided by only three people (of the F.C.C.) and is being passed down to large companies who the overwhelming public have no power over.

The controversy net neutrality has within the public is overwhelmingly one sided. These consequences directly affect minorities and marginalized communities such as people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, religious minorities, etc. Social media is one of their only media outlets that lets them have the ability to speak out against oppression and discrimination, and without it these minorities have nothing to turn to. Movements and opportunites activists want to spread and organize to educate others on what they face, can no longer be easily done because of the repeal of Net Neutrality. Having an open internet allows people of color to be outspoken and to tell their stories and experiences with racial oppression.Without Net Neutrality, ISPs can block free speech and the voices of members of that community, taking away an important platform in their movement.

In my opinion, Net Neutrality is vital to keeping the internet alive and for helping minorities’ voices alive and overall is necessary; without it our rights and freedom of speech are being taken away. Although the repeal of Net Neutrality cannot be officially done until it goes through Congress, it is still worth fighting against because the consequences of Net Neutrality apply to everyone. Taking away our basic rights to having internet access, is unjust and outright selfish because it brings people as a society together.