Feb. 26, WASHINGTON: The people have spoken and the lawmakers listened.

The battle for a free, open, and fair internet has won an important fight today.

Over the past year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received over four million comments in support of net neutrality. One of which came from President Obama, urging the FCC to “keep the internet open and free.”

By a 3-2 vote, the FCC adopted Net Neutrality, effectively reclassifying broadband Internet as a public utility. This means that Internet service providers (Comcast, Cox, etc.) are now considered carriers under Title II of the Telecommunications Act.

But…Wait a minute, is that actually a good thing?

You bet it is!

Service providers are now required to treat all data equally—regardless of where it comes from. This means no more bandwidth-throttling, no more data discrimination and no more bullying from cable company monopolies.

To clear up any confusion, this is not putting the internet in the hands of the government.

Net Neutrality is not about control—it’s about freedom.

“The action that we take today is an irrefutable reflection of the principle that no one—whether government or corporate—should control free open access to the Internet.”

~ FCC Chairman, Tom Wheeler

 

Bonus! John Oliver on net neutrality:

Relephant Links:

What if our Internet was like our Facebook Newsfeed? {Video: Obama on Net Neutrality}

The People Speak Out Against “Cable Company F*ckery.”

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Author: Danny Glunz

Editor: Emma Ruffin

Photo: Flickr