Brandon Lynch

Gag order?

As a blogger at the age of 22 with a small group of bloggers in tow (ppablog.org), I see first hand, the negative effects of losing net neutrality. In past months the president has been attacking free speech for bloggers and that was just the start of the crumbling of what we, as Americans, call free speech.

Now we are seeing a new step in such things. It is important to see that net neutrality is what makes the internet the easiest access to whatever information you need for school, work or even your hobbies. Without such things we will be taking very large steps back in what separates us from third world countries: free will.

Net Neutrality is essential to free speech, equal opportunity and economic innovation in America. Since the FCC removed this basic protection in 2005, the top executives of phone and cable companies have stated their intention to become the Internet's gatekeepers and to discriminate against Web sites that don't pay their added tolls.

This fundamental change would end the open Internet as we know it. It would damage my ability to connect with others, share information and participate in our 21st century democracy and economy. The FCC must ensure that broadband providers do not block, interfere with or discriminate against any lawful Internet traffic based on its ownership, source or destination.