As I was sitting in my sixth hour class watching CNN’s live feed of the Federal Communications Commission’s meeting to repeal net neutrality, the big announcement came a couple minutes before the class ended. The vote was 3-2 and net neutrality was gone in a blink of an eye. The Internet, as we know it, will not be fair and equal anymore.

“As I see many people stand up [after the verdict of repealing net neutrality], so do I,” is what I said to myself shortly after the FCC announced that net neutrality had been repealed. I for one, am against this decision because it’s not just taking away fair and equal internet. Without net neutrality, Internet Service Providers or ISPs for short, can charge you more for streaming videos, watch Netflix, etc. ISPs, like Verizon, can also block you from certain websites that they don’t feel comfortable you seeing. Along with that, ISPs can also slow down small business websites in favor of big corporations.

ISPs can also regulate what you see very quickly. That is not OK. ISPs did this before to the American people when Comcast slowed down Netflix in 2014 so Netflix can pay more for them to stream faster. The money you pay for a monthly subscription goes straight to the shareholders of the ISPs without net neutrality. Many people were upset of the outcome because Ajit Pai, the chairman of the FCC, had his plan in place to repeal net neutrality back in April.

“Net neutrality makes everyone equal on equal footing,” Liberty teacher Mr. Weis said in passionate speech to his 7th hour class. Mr. Weis wasn’t the only Liberty staff member who was passionate about net neutrality.

Mr. Schaper is also passionate about net neutrality.

“I love the Internet, and I use it a lot,” Schaper said. “The way the internet is structured now allows students and teachers equal access to all sorts of information we use in the classroom. To me, as to many others, the internet is a utility. I imagine my professional life would take a toll if it were hindered.”

Net neutrality should stay in the FCC rulebooks because it allows fair and equal internet to be the same with everyone and not favoring the ISPs and the ISPs shareholders.