Our View: Keep the Web Open to All: Contact congress to prevent FCC from ending net neutrality

When it comes to the Internet and age of information, we don’t know what we have until it’s gone. Going on whatever website we want and experiencing the Internet without interference from a cable provider or phone company is something we should have the right to, but this right is very close to being taken away from us.

This is net neutrality: free speech through an open Internet, without applications being blocked or discriminated against through a provider. Without net neutrality companies like Verizon are able to charge websites to reach users at faster speeds, in turn slowing down the lower budget ones.

Without net neutrality companies are able to throttle Internet speeds to certain websites for their users.

The Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai is working to do away with net neutrality, making the case scenarios discussed above a grim reality.

According to the FCC, the net neutrality rules will be voted on Dec. 14 and are predicted to be done away with, letting Internet providers do basically whatever they want when it comes to Internet speeds.

What we as citizens can do is limited due to the plan being moved forward so quickly, but a large public outcry is evident.

As students, you can join the protest to save the free Internet, both online and in the world by spreading awareness of this issue and contacting the FCC and Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley as well as Rep. Rod Blum with emails and phone calls.