Why Net Neutrality Should Matter to Latinos

We are consumers, early adopters, super users of the net and creators Latinx, net neutrality is one of the most important matters and social issues today…

Imagine working on a big assignment, a major deal, or building your e-commerce shop when you get hit with a slow download or can’t upload an image to your shop, guess what you have to ‘upgrade’ or trying to have a Facetime conversation and your service provider blocks it? How about your favorite site, let’s say BoldLatina.com (wink) from being blocked by your ISP?

If you have followed the debate, cool. You are informed. If not, you should follow the issue of net neutrality, especially as a super-user of the net. Get concerned. Really concerned. Our access is in jeopardy.

So, what is ‘Net Neutrality’ exactly? Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers must treat all data on the Internet the same, and not discriminate or charge differently by user, content, website, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or method of communication. More history… during the Obama Administration, Democrats ran the FCC (a government agency, Federal Communications Commission) passing net neutrality rules for a better, high-speed internet as the internet would be treated equivalent to electricity or telephone, as a utility. Net neutrality and its component of the ‘open Internet’ levels the playing field on all levels, from providers to who the users are.

What is the current situation? At the time, under the Trump Administration (or #45s Administration, as we call it) under FCC’s Republican chairman, Ajit Pai, the FCC has been slowly chipping away at repealing net neutrality and government mandated policies.On December 14, a decision by the FCC to completely repeal current net neutrality rules could put into motion that internet access will be limited to the low-income, allow cable and internet service providers to slice up their packages (see below) as in pay-per-play technology, high speed (speedy service) for the affluent who can afford it and low-speed (‘I can grass grow’ slow speed) for those who can’t. This ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ lanes approach is a real ‘Republican’ play for sure! Here is the Myth vs. Fact FCC sheet, which is questionable, clearly we know what the ‘Republican’ play is….

It is Internet access ‘Dooms Day’ for plenty of low-income, mostly people of color individuals and families. Without access to the internet, information, banking, education, employment and more can impact these communities. While access to content is important, it can very well be higher prices that can be a deciding factor, leaving many households without internet access at all.

So what can you do? How to get on ‘Team Net’? Of course, we can wait for Congress to block the new rules or take action now to help Congress make the right decision.

1.) PROTEST at Verizon stores on Dec 7: https://VerizonProtests.com2.) Get out your mobile and call Congress!

3.) Email Congress!

4.) Sign Senator Kamala Harris ‘s petition. She is taking the FCC head on!

5.) Join online protest ‘Break The Internet’ #savenetneutrality #stopthefcc

6.) Share this BoldLatina article (wink) , show ’em we mean business, all of us #Latinx and #PoC do!

 

(Updated Post 12/12)