Will Net Neutrality Survive?

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” — Thomas Jefferson

Any legally sanctioned corporate privilege which allows corporations to not only dictate the delivery speed of Internet content but to censor that content, is violating the 1st Amendment of the Constitution.

This is my opinion, based on reading several dozen quotes about the negative impact losing a free media has on a society. Many of these quotes originated hundreds of years ago, so this issue of citizen’s access to a free and open media has been around for a while.

History has proven over and over again that when The People’s right to know is restricted, censored, or violated in any way, a society is not truly free. Our Forefathers were adamant about maintaining a free and open media, to ensure that a government they themselves formed would not become too powerful and not serve in the best interest of The People.

The deregulation of our media by the FCC resulted in far fewer choices for acquiring unbiased information in order to make educated choices about most everything. Vested interest by the corporations who “own” our media has facilitated extensive censorship of our “news,” which has become “infotainment,” instead of true, unbiased, helpful information.

The one place left for people to have access to a global community of information, communication, entertainment, and education, is the Internet. Yes, not all of it is savory or useful, but the same can be said of print, television, and radio media as well. However, having our Internet access censored, restricted, and impeded by giving control of our Internet to corporations with a vested interest in controlling its content and delivery, is just another loss of liberty for the American People.

"The deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded” — Charles-Louis De Secondat

The FCC has the power to keep Net Neutrality and not bow to corporate pressure in lieu of doing the right thing for the American People. The question is, do the leaders of the FCC have the character to say “No” to corporate interests? Their choice and its impact will be their legacy.