Today, we have almost all of human knowledge, creation, and communication in our pockets. The internet is arguably one of the most important inventions in the last 100 years, and the wealth of information it provides has changed the way we interact with and understand our world. The newly staffed Federal Communications Commission (FCC), responsible for regulation of interstate communications like radio, TV, cable and other mediums, is threatening that freedom through the repeal of net neutrality, and in a pretty scary way.

First, let me explain what net neutrality is. In simple terms, it’s the guarantee of free, unadulterated flow of information on the internet. Internet service providers, or ISPs, like Verizon, Comcast, AT&T and others are prohibited from picking and choosing which sites you are allowed to access, and the speed at which you are able to access them.

The new head of the FCC, Ajit Pai, has unveiled new legislation that will end net neutrality, and the implications are rather daunting. Right now, internet access is guaranteed as a public utility, but if the legislation that guarantees this is repealed, it'll become much more monetized. Lobbyists pushing the legislation say that it will encourage innovation and investment, and create jobs, but all that really means is that it will be great for big business. ISPs will be able to create a pay-to-use system where they can pick and choose what websites accessible, similar to cable packages. Your internet could quite possibly end up looking like this in the next few years.

30% of Americans aren't able to pick their service provider, as their localities only have one ISP that services their area.

This kind of anti-competitive conduct would be a huge breach of antitrust laws They say that the Federal Trade Commission would be in charge of regulating it in the name of better regulation, but the FTC has said this simply isn't true, and under the new laws they wouldn't have the authority to do anything. One of the purposes of the government regulating the internet is to avoid companies with a vested interest in having the power to promote their services over others. This would end, and the big ISPs would be able to conduct business however they saw fit, using loopholes in the law to avoid government interference.

The question now is, what can you do to stop this? Unfortunately, not much.

60% of voters say they support net neutrality, yet the FCC says that there is not much anyone can do to stop the new legislation from moving forward. The FCC argues that there haven't been any substantial claims or valid legal points that would influence their decision and that because of this, public opinion does not have much sway. "The Commission takes consumer complaints seriously and finds them valuable in informing us about trends in the marketplace, but we reiterate that they are informal complaints that, in most instances, have not been verified" Pai stated in his proposal for the anti-net neutrality plan.

Basically, he's valuing the voice of corporations over people. The legislation is moving ahead rather quickly and is only waiting for a vote by the FCC. Pai is optimistic it will pass.

Surely, the powers that be have our interest at hand, right? There must be some piece of this puzzle that justifies the actions the FCC is taking, and we just aren't knowledgeable on the finer points of internet related legislation. Well, not really. The former chair of the FCC sheds even more light on the subject, saying that the claims that this deal will help people get better internet are fraudulent, and that "the FCC continually turns their back on their congressional mandate to protect consumers". Should this pass, the way we are able to interact with one another, as well as the plethora of information available to us on the internet will be drastically changed, and we will be worse off for it. Enjoy reading articles like this for free now, that may soon be a thing of the past.