Network Neutrality's Impact on Low Income Communities: Equal Access for All

When Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski calmly laid out the case for creating rules to ensure an open Internet an incredible storm of protest, hype, fear, uncertainty and doubt threaten to bury the value propositions presented by the Chairman. This is particularly true in low-income urban and rural communities. The threat by giant telecom companies that they will stop spending for networks in these communities, and increase prices where services currently exists, raises the fear level, stifles discussion and poisons community opinion towards the FCC's effort to preserve an open Internet. Low-income constituents are, in fact, among the primary beneficiaries of Network Neutrality rules that ensure those with the least continue to have equal footing on the Internet. This paper presents a case for open Internet rules in the context of their impact on low-income rural and urban communities. Though urban and rural are distinctly different constituencies, an open Internet offers both similar benefits and protections.