My partner is an English teacher at a mid-sized high school in the South. Each day, he may be sharing stills from classic horror films to explore the evolution of character portrayals, displaying the First Folios of Shakespeare, reviewing medieval manuscripts, or analyzing how different directors have interpreted scenes from The Great Gatsby. The internet is his lifeline, allowing him to engage his students with current, relevant, and relatable content.
However, this dynamic may soon face drastic changes. Recently, the Republican-led Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to repeal net neutrality, a principle that ensures internet service providers (ISPs) like Comcast and AT&T cannot charge users extra for accessing certain content or slow down access unless users pay more. Under the regulations put in place during the Obama administration in 2015, ISPs were required to provide equal access to all content without additional charges. Unfortunately, those protections have now been dismantled.
The future consequences of this repeal are uncertain, but there is widespread concern regarding the potential for a tiered internet system—where paid content loads faster while free content lags behind at dial-up speeds reminiscent of the mid-90s. This could lead to higher overall internet costs and the extinction of smaller websites as users prioritize what they can afford.
Most troubling is the prospect of a digital divide resulting in “haves” and “have-nots,” where students from lower-income families struggle to access basic online content. Everything today is online—imagine trying to write a research paper while your ISP blocks access to half the necessary resources, and the remaining content takes ages to load. The disparity in internet access and speeds could severely impact students’ ability to research and complete assignments effectively.
As Katherine Ahnberg, an academic librarian at the University of Pennsylvania, highlighted in an NPR interview, “The internet is essential to all our functions.” To analyze information critically, students require unrestricted access to a wealth of resources.
Moreover, many students now take tests online, including standardized assessments in many states. A report from StudyBreaks indicates that compromised internet access could hinder students’ ability to complete online exams or submit assignments on time, not to mention their involvement in online group projects and discussion boards.
Richard Thompson, the CEO of Tech in Education, expressed concerns about how this repeal could impact educational resources. He noted that ISPs have no financial incentive to provide high-speed access to content that doesn’t generate revenue. With net neutrality, the landscape was equitable; however, prioritizing paid content over free resources could jeopardize schools’ access to essential educational tools. For example, a school in Chattanooga allowed students to utilize a rare electron microscope at the University of Southern California, a resource made possible through high-speed internet access. If that access is throttled, so too is the opportunity for students to conduct vital experiments.
This shift could dismantle years of progress toward equalizing educational resources across diverse school districts. Many institutions may find themselves unable to afford premium internet services, and the internet could transform from a great equalizer to yet another factor deepening the divide between affluent and underprivileged students. Pew Research has already found that approximately 5 million low-income school-aged children lack access to broadband.
With concerns about how deregulating net neutrality could exacerbate inequality, parents, teachers, and school administrators are understandably worried. Picture a scenario where a parent cannot respond to a teacher’s email due to limited internet access—it’s a harsh reality that could become common in this new landscape lacking consumer protections.
While ISPs assure that nothing will change, Thompson points out, “At the end of the day, who are these companies accountable to? They answer to shareholders, not to the educators in our classrooms.”
Numerous organizations, including the American Association of Community Colleges and the National Association of College and University Business Officers, have voiced concerns regarding the negative implications of repealing net neutrality on students’ educational experiences.
In summary, the repeal of net neutrality poses a significant threat to educational equity and access. As our reliance on the internet for learning continues to grow, the potential for a divided educational landscape could hinder the academic success of countless students. For more insights on reproductive health and educational resources, you can check out this article on home insemination and this excellent resource for IVF.