Exploring Internet Neutrality: Impacts and Implications for Digital Equity

Introduction

Internet neutrality, or net neutrality, refers to the principle that Internet service providers (ISPs) must treat all data on the Internet equally, without discriminating against or charging differently by user, content, website, platform, application, or method of communication. This report aims to explore the impacts and implications of internet neutrality on digital equity, focusing on how the absence or presence of such regulations affects access to information, economic opportunities, and social justice. By analyzing the significance of maintaining net neutrality, this paper will elucidate its role in fostering a more equitable digital landscape.

Main Body

The concept of internet neutrality emerged in the early 2000s as ISPs began to explore ways to prioritize certain types of traffic over others. The debate intensified around 2015 when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted strong net neutrality rules, classifying broadband as a telecommunications service. However, in 2017, under a new administration, the FCC repealed these regulations, igniting widespr