Net neutrality is the basic principle that the Internet is an open gateway that anyone can use. Imagine the Internet like a highway: without net neutrality there are toll booths, traffic and roadblocks all over. Net neutrality ensures that as long as you pay your bills, you will have equal access to any website, a flat fee for unlimited internet. Without net neutrality, certain websites will charge you an extra amount for sites and services that they do not support.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) director Ajit Pai, appointed by President Donald J. Trump, produced a revision in late April that will abolish net neutrality. In May, the divided FCC decided to send the bill to Congress, which voted, on Dec. 14, 3-2 to repeal the “Obama-Era” business regulation. The FCC’s decision is one of greed and ignorance, ignoring the millions of protesters and warnings against an “a la carte” internet.

The Internet has been a platform to reach millions of people within the click of a mouse. With certain websites blocked to people who choose not to pay each and every fee, this makes it difficult for everyone to see the same content.

Abolishing net neutrality will also make it hard for certain news websites to be seen; Internet Service Providers (ISP) will only show the companies that support their views or business.

Giving the government and big business the power to control what is on the Internet creates a cost problem for the middle and lower classes. Those who pay a monthly fee now, with unlimited access, might have to pay extra for their favorite website if their current ISP decides they won’t support that website.

The ISP gets to make their own decision of what websites to support and stream based off of what they have invested in those companies. Comcast, for example, owns Xfinity, a telephone service company that also has their own streaming website. If someone has Comcast internet, they would not have the same access to other streaming websites like Hulu, Netflix or Youtube, because Comcast would only support Xfinity Stream. The new net neutrality law makes it so that internet providers like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon can block, display or charge extra for certain websites. Most likely the law will be sent to Congress where they will review the FCC’s decision and, with citizens speaking out more and more for what they want, hopefully overturn their repeal. There are already talks of lawsuits and court cases against the FCC for this despicable law.