Goodbye Net Neutrality, Hello Gilded Age Internet

A recent federal appeals court ruling shot down “net neutrality.” Prior to the court ruling, Internet service providers had to treat all content going through their pipes equally, just like conversations are treated going through a phone line.

This animation by Mark Fiore provides a humorous explanation.

Last Thursday, activists dropped over one million signed petitions off at an FCC meeting, demanding the agency bring back net neutrality.

Here’s what President Obama had to say about it during a Google hangout on Friday:

”It’s something I’ve cared deeply about ever since I ran for office, in part because my own campaign was empowered by a free and open Internet and the ability for citizens all across this country to engage and create and find new tools to mobilize themselves.

A lot of that couldn’t have been done if there were a lot of commercial barriers and roadblocks. So I’ve been a strong supporter of net neutrality,”

Senator Edward J. Markey filed a bill today to restore “net neutrality” to the Internet.

Let’s hope net neutrality remains intact. Can you imagine how it would impact our world and further divide the privileged from the impoverished? Ugh.

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Editor: Bryonie Wise