The FCC's vote to dismantle net neutrality regulations is a deathly blow to equal access to the internet.
It's about a lot more than how long it may take your favorite Netflix shows to load, and here's why. Timothy Karr, the senior director of stra...
The FCC's vote to dismantle net neutrality regulations is a deathly blow to equal access to the internet.
It's about a lot more than how long it may take your favorite Netflix shows to load, and here's why. Timothy Karr, the senior director of strategy at Free Press, and Maya Wiley, senior vice president of social justice at The New School, joined Salon's Alyona Minkovski for "Salon Talks" to explain why net neutrality is about free speech, democratic engagement and socioeconomics.
"It's a huge issue because now in the 21st century, broadband access, high-speed internet access and the access to information is fundamental to the economy, to our democracy, to the way we get and share information about what's happening in the world, the way we organize our communities, find solutions," Wiley said.
By getting rid of the Obama-era rules and no longer regulating internet service providers like public utilities, there will be nothing to stop internet service providers from making companies or users pay a premium to access certain content at faster speeds.
"This is a complete abdication of the agency's authority. It's a very radical decision," Karr said. "Now if your internet service provider wants to censor your ability to speak online, there's nothing there that could stop it. If it wants to block your ability to access a website or a service that you like online, there is nothing that would stop your internet service provider from doing that".
To hear more about what states, cities and Congress can do to save net neutrality, as well as how this will impact communities of color, watch the video above.