The quiet power of Internet access

The Internet isn’t just where we scroll. It’s where we learn, organize, build businesses, tell our stories, and imagine what’s next.

For Black communities, the Internet has long been a tool for connection and creation, a place to preserve culture, amplify voices, and open doors that haven’t always been open offline. But none of that works if access is fragile, gated, or unfair.

That’s where the idea of an open Internet comes in.

What an open Internet actually means

At its core, an open Internet means everyone gets the same shot. It’s the idea that the Internet should remain a shared, decentralized space, where people can access information, create content, and connect without interference from gatekeepers.

In practical terms, that means:

• You decide what you watch, read, build, or share

• Your Internet provider doesn’t slow down certain sites

• No one pays extra just to be seen or heard

This principle is closely tied to net neutrality, the rule that all data should be treated equally. Streaming a movie, submitting homework, uploading art, hosting a livestream, or running an online store should all work without special fees, hidden throttling, or preferential treatment.

Same lanes. Same speeds. Same opportunity.

Why the open Internet matters for Black communities

Access to the Internet has never been evenly distributed. And when access is limited (or manipulated), existing inequalities don’t disappear. They deepen. An open Internet helps push back against that by making space for:

Economic opportunity

Black entrepreneurs and small businesses rely on the Internet to reach customers, run operations, and compete beyond their immediate zip code. When the Internet stays open, they don’t need to pay for “priority” access just to be found.

Creative ownership

From musicians and filmmakers to writers, educators, and streamers, the Internet has made it possible to share work directly, without asking permission. Open access keeps those paths open and prevents creativity from being filtered by who can afford visibility.

Education and advancement

Reliable, unrestricted Internet access supports learning at every level, from students completing assignments to adults reskilling, freelancing, or launching something new. When access is fair, progress isn’t limited to those who can pay more.

Civic voice and community building

The Internet has played a critical role in organizing, storytelling, and advocacy within Black communities. Open access ensures those conversations don’t get slowed, buried, or priced out.

What happens when the Internet isn’t open

When net neutrality disappears, the Internet starts to look less like a public resource, and more like a toll road.

That can mean:

• Large companies paying for faster lanes

• Smaller businesses getting pushed out of view

• Certain sites costing extra to use

• Slower speeds for people who can’t afford “premium” access

Over time, that creates a class-based Internet. One where money determines whose connection loads quickly, whose voice travels farther, and who gets left buffering. That kind of system doesn’t just limit convenience. It limits opportunity. And it widens a digital divide that many communities are already working hard to close.

Keeping the Internet open is about the future

Black History Month is about honoring resilience, creativity, and progress. 

An open Internet is one of the systems that uplifts that progress.  It protects the idea that opportunity shouldn’t be gated. That voices shouldn’t be throttled. That access should mean access for everyone.

The Internet works best when it belongs to all of us. And it’s worth protecting that.