by Barbara Lach

Net without neutrality is like a highway with only a few on-ramps for those who can pay the most.

Let’s imagine for a second that we privatize access to the entire U.S. interstate system with more than 46,000 miles of highways and replace every on-ramp with a tollbooth. No access to the highway unless you pay. Now let’s have each tollbooth owner decide the monetary value of access. The owner may decide such access depends on speed limits on the highway, types of vehicles entering, contents of such vehicles or even zip codes. Sounds odd? You bet!

This is how the Federal Communications Commission understands Internet access in today’s America. Reversing the agency’s 2015 decision of stronger oversight over broadband providers, the FCC repealed its net neutrality rules on Dec. 14, 2017. These protections prohibited broadband providers from blocking websites and charging selectively for certain content. The federal government will also no longer regulate the delivery of high-speed Internet as a utility, much like a phone service. Broadband providers are empowered to control who can access the online world–and when and how they do so.

The FCC order repealing net neutrality was published Feb. 23 in the Federal Register, clearing way for Congress to reverse net neutrality with a vote. Since December, legislation to enforce net neutrality has been introduced in more than one half of US states. Free Press filed one of the first lawsuits to overturn the FCC’s net neutrality-gutting vote, and more than 20 state attorneys general are also suing the FCC. Millions of Americans have voiced opposition to the FCC’s ruling and in support of protections for all to connect and communicate.

On Feb. 27 you can join users, businesses, communities and popular websites in an effort to mobilize lawmakers to pass a resolution of disapproval that would overturn the FCC’s net neutrality repeal: Operation #OneMoreVote www.freepress.net.