Small businesses don’t stand a chance online without net neutrality

The U. S. Senate is just one vote away from overturning the FCC’s decision to repeal net neutrality provisions. This vote, set to take place this month, will determine if small businesses will continue to have an equal chance of competing with big business. It will also determine the future of free speech in America.

On Dec. 14, 2017, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai voted to repeal net neutrality rules, which allowed internet providers to slow the loading speeds for smaller websites. What this means for small businesses is that they would have to pay more in order for their websites to load at the same speed of more established websites.

For a small business, a slow website could mean less web traffic, which could affect its growth, sales and advertising.

How are small business websites and blogs going to compete with big businesses that have millions in revenue?

Big companies like Comcast, Verizon, AT& T and Spectrum have lobbied unknown amounts of money for the FCC to repeal net neutrality. At one time, Pai was even a lawyer for Verizon.

In order to give small businesses a fair, competitive chance and to uphold the First Amendment, Americans across the country must encourage their legislators to vote in favor of net neutrality. The First Amendment is at stake.

Abrar Qureshi, Willowbrook