Internet rights are civil rights

[Commentary] Imagine if Internet access to the images and information from the aftermath of the killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner was restricted, or disparately available. Would the communities who took to the streets, channeling decades of oppression and injustice, have captured the attention of the American public? Would the protests have sparked a national conversation on systemic racism or police accountability?

The Internet is now our central platform for engaging in dialogue about the most important issues facing our country. It’s where we share our views, speak out against injustice, and express our hopes for the future. But the truth is, a free and open Internet is now at risk -- endangering our rights as citizens and the freedoms that define the promise of this country. Without a renewed commitment to Internet Rights, we risk undermining the very core of our democracy, setting ourselves on a course for a modern-day news blackout. The Federal Communications Commission ought to demonstrate its commitment to the common good by restoring so-called Title II protection, reclassifying Internet Service Providers as common carriers responsible for sending and receiving information at uniform speeds. Such a move would safeguard the free exchange of information, make it harder to discriminate among ideas, and provide greater competition.

[Darren Walker is the President of the Ford Foundation]