The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is  proposing new rules on the Open Internet policy we’ve all been operating under.

In January, a District of Columbia court of appeals struck down the Open Internet as we know it, but new rules haven’t been imposed. Tom Wheeler, the Chairman of the FCC, is taking comments on the new proposal until Sept. 15th.

In essence, the new rules will make websites pay for a faster bandwidth. Big companies like Verizon or Comcast can afford to do this, ensuring that consumers will see their websites and things they promote. The little websites will get pushed into the “slow lane” because they won’t be able to afford the cost of fast internet. Until now, the Internet has been operating under “Net Neutrality,” ensuring that all speech can be equally heard. All websites are under the same bandwidth, meaning Google or that little opinion blog you love load at the same speed. 

The FCC says, according to their website, they seek, “to ensure that the Internet remains a powerful platform for innovation and job creation; to empower consumers and entrepreneurs; to protect free expression; to promote competition; to increase certainty in the marketplace by providing greater predictability for all stakeholders regarding federal policy in this area, and to spur investment both at the ‘edge,’ and in the core of our broadband networks.” 

Since the conception of the Internet, it has been a free marketplace where ideas can grow equally, not matter if the president or an 11-year-old who just learned how to use a computer spoke them. All ideas carry weight, and everyone’s opinion matters. Unless these rules pass, that is. Then, the only thing that will matter is who can pay the fee to be heard. 

This not only goes against my personal beliefs. I believe this goes against the very constitution that our country was founded on. The First Amendment states that, “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech.” The FCC has been endowed with powers of Congress, and if this isn’t abridging our freedom of speech, then I don’t know what is. These rules will filter who can be heard depending on how much money they have. 

Going back even further, The Declaration of Independence states that, “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” Not, “all men of certain wealth are created equal.” 

These rules aren’t just going against net neutrality and the free marketplace Internet we’ve come to enjoy. They are going against the very cornerstones of our country. We have the right to speak and be heard. It shouldn’t matter how much money we have. All of our ideas are valid and worthy, even if they’re wrong. Without wrong ideas, we can’t decide for ourselves what’s right. 

The last day to submit comments to the FCC will be before this article is published, but voting probably won’t happen until the end of the year. Put your ideas out there to be heard, write to your local congressman, do what you feel you must to prevent this gross abridgment of our rights!