What is net neutrality?

Net neutrality is the idea that internet service providers, also known as ISP’s do not have the power to control what we see on the internet. This means that they cannot block access or slow down connections to certain websites or servers.
The internet is like a city’s water pipeline, There are main lines that run throughout the city, And the main lines connect to smaller pipes, which go throughout the streets. Those the connect to your house, which are then connected to your toilet, sink, etc. Next, we pay our water bills to the company that supplies our water, and pay our taxes so that the city can take our s*** away, literally.
The internet works the same way, except instead of connecting to toilets and sinks, you are connecting your computer, phone, and all of your internet connected devices, and you pay your ISP to transmit your data. Further on your water system, once the water enters your home, the water company doesn’t care what you do with it; they can’t say that the sink is more important than the shower, and that you have to pay more to have “shower privileges”. This is the concept of net neutrality, making sure ISP’s don’t clog our toilets or shorten our showers.

Why is it so important?

Putting the cost factor aside, there are more reasons why the net neutrality repeal should not have gone through. First of all, the people. For months before the vote commenced, American citizens have been protesting, sending letters, and speaking out in support of net neutrality. According to a 2015 US Census, 77% of Americans have a broadband internet subscription, and the government ignored all of them.
Furthermore, many companies and corporations have tweeted something in support of a free and open internet, the tagline for net neutrality. For example, on December 14, Netflix tweeted “We’re disappointed in the decision to gut #NetNeutrality protections that ushered in an unprecedented era of innovation, creativity & civic engagement. This is the beginning of a longer legal battle. Netflix stands w/ innovators, large & small, to oppose this misguided FCC order.”
Continuing, Tim Berners-Lee the founder of the Web Foundation and creator of the World Wide Web, the www prefix that appears in the URL of virtually all of the websites you visit, supports net neutrality, saying “When I invented the web, I didn’t have to ask anyone for permission, and neither did America’s successful internet entrepreneurs when they started their businesses. To reach its full potential, the internet must remain a permissionless space for creativity, innovation and free expression. In today’s world, companies can’t operate without internet, and access to it is controlled by just a few providers. The FCC’s announcements today suggest they want to step back and allow concentrated market players to pick winners and losers online. Their talk is all about getting more people connected, but what is the point if your ISP only lets you watch the movies they choose, just like the old days of cable?”
Long story short, now that ISP’s have the power to block and throttle, you may see some changes in the terms & conditions in the near future, and changes to your internet service plan somewhere down the road.