USA TODAY

Letter to the Editor:

Small businesses are central in any discussion on net neutrality. They rely on an open, neutral Internet to sell products to their customers. Studies show that nearly half of online users exit a website if it doesn’t load within three seconds. In the future, cable and Internet companies could act like digital robber barons, making businesses pay fees if they want customers to surf their sites at high speed. Without net neutrality laws, there’s nothing to stop them from doing that.

An open Internet is essential for entrepreneurship. Small businesses and startups across the country can’t afford to pay companies like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon a ransom for the high speeds necessary to compete online. Nor should they. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, the Federal Communications Commission supports shouldn’t touch the Open Internet Order.

Amanda Ballantyne, National Director of Main Street Alliance; Washington, D.C.

Preserve net neutrality

FCC chairman: Strict regulations stifle competition

Several large tech companies led Wednesday's "Net Neutrality Day of Action" online rally to protest the Federal Communications Commission's proposal to reverse net neutrality regulations. Major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) responded shortly after. Comments edited for clarity and grammar:

It should be a big red flag any time large corporations oppose deregulation.

—Tim McClure

Net neutrality provides a level playing field for everyone. Those with money will want to control the net for profit. We have neutrality on many common services that the public uses daily. The only control is based on consumption. Comcast and all net providers charge for high capacity speed now. This is a major profit provider for them.

—Donald Wade

Net neutrality gives content providers zero incentive to ensure their content does not kill networks. Arguing for it is like saying that cars should be able to travel at the same speed during rush hour as they do at midnight and the people responsible for roads have to accommodate it. The fact is that the bandwidth is limited by many factors, and companies that produce content that uses more of it should pay more.

—Jim Newman

Congress should smarten up and allow freedom to prevail. The more things are unregulated and neutral, the more generous and civilized our culture will be.

— Zachary Clark

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