Net neutrality is the foundational principle that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) must treat all data on the internet equally, without discrimination or differential charging. This concept frames the internet as a public utility, similar to electricity or water, that should be accessible to all without interference. The central debate has been managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has gone back and forth on how to classify internet providers. Under the Obama administration, the FCC classified ISPs as Title II common carriers, giving the agency strong regulatory power to enforce net neutrality. However, these rules were later repealed under the Trump administration, reclassifying ISPs as information services to supposedly encourage corporate investment and innovation.

Proponents of net neutrality worry that without these rules, ISPs could engage in practices like throttling (slowing down), blocking content, or creating "fast lanes" through paid prioritization. The repeal effectively shifted the battleground, leading many individual states to enact their own net neutrality laws. A 2024 attempt to restore federal rules was ultimately blocked by a circuit court in early 2025, cementing the internet's regulatory status as a state-level issue for the foreseeable future. This has created a complex patchwork of laws across the country instead of a single federal standard. The ongoing discussion continues to question who should control the flow of information and at what cost to the consumer.