Save net neutrailty

Despite public outrage, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on a net neutrality-killing plan on Dec. 14.

Net neutrality is essential to our ability to communicate freely online. FCC chairman Ajit Pai’s plans to destroy it will affect minority groups, activists, small businesses, and anyone who has the expectation of being connected with any website they want when they go online.

Although the FCC adopted net neutrality rules in 2015, chairman Pai, who also happens to be a former Verizon executive, is intent on killing the open internet.

He must be stopped, and we have six more days to do that.

If net neutrality is shot down, internet service providers such as AT&T, Comcast and Verizon would be able to regulate the voices people listen to.

If they do not agree with the viewpoints or content of certain sites, they would be able to slow down or block those websites.

Each internet service provider would be able to give preferential treatment to political affiliations they agree with, or to the people who pay them the most. Freedom of speech online would be destroyed.

Small businesses, regardless of size or money, have always been given a level playing field for building their brand through net neutrality. ISPs could potentially destroy small business opportunity by charging heft fees for them to have the same internet exposure as large corporations. Website traffic is essential for businesses, and while a company like Wal-Mart would not mind paying for their website to be prioritized, this could potentially put a small coffee shop out of business.

This would also drastically impede activists and minority groups’ ability to assemble and organize for social justice.

But that is exactly Pai wants. Opponents to net neutrality do not care about the ability of minorities and activists to have a forum to get their point across or organize a march. They care about money, and they care about controlling the political agenda to their bias.

An open internet that allows the Black Lives Matter activists to spread their message is not an internet that Trump or Pai want.

Internet service providers should not be the gatekeepers for internet access if we want to continue to have open and fair access. You can call 1-202-418-1000 to reach the chairman of the FCC’s voicemail. Say your name, city, state and opposition to the appeal of net neutrality. It is easier than you think, and could help protect the internet as we know it.

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Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.

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