I use the internet to stay up to date on news and stay connected to my friends and family. I also buy things online that I can't get elsewhere. Professionally, I use it to access important educational material for my practical knowledge and to help my patients. Net neutrality is paramount to keeping the internet an equal opportunity medium for accessing information and subsequent empowerment.

I grew up on the Internet, I work remotely--over the Internet--and most of the products I consume come from the Internet. This lifestyle was established on a long-standing Internet principal, from which only the foolish depart, that all desirably-received traffic be created, and treated equally.

As a small medical provider I should have the same playing field as everyone else. Those that have money already are able to position themselves on the top of the page.

I live more than 700 miles from most of my family. I get online daily in order to stay in touch with them and would be devastated if I lost that connection. I also read online, watch TV shows and movies online, and my email is essential!

As a special education teacher, I constantly use the internet for special education sites, downloadable books, and many other educational resources. An open internet is vital for my line of work.

The Internet enriches the lives of my family by providing entertainment, knowledge and the world within a few clicks of a mouse button. Preventing the growth of our society so a few conglomerates can line their pockets is wrong. We need an open, fair and balanced Internet environment. Right now the Internet is a place of balanced access where all Internet services are treated equally. Now Comcast, Verizon and ATT want to change the rules and they've got the newest FCC appointee, Tom Wheeler, about to allow them to relegate websites they don't like to a "slow lane." That would include every non-profit organization, local website and small business site. It will almost certainly prevent any start-up from transforming into a Netflix, Twitter, Facebook or even Google. That doesn't sound smart for consumers or for the US.

An open internet allows world citizens to speak "truth to power." True democracy does not flourish in environments where profit and greed supercede the right to information. Dr. Newell Canfield

The Internet allows us an unparalleled opportunity to connect with all of our fellow human beings in order to exchange valuable information that is crucial to understanding and fixing the problems in the world.

I am involved in a lot of projects, the intent of which is to improve jail and prison conditions, as well as providing some post-release programs. I depend heavily on the internet for research, writing and sharing my articles and communication with other people and organizations with similar goals. I live in Lake County, sparsely populated and relatively isolated from surrounding counties.

I am also a college student at the University of Southern Maine where a majority of our classes are being transitioned to online classes and where a great number of student live well beyond 2 hours from the campus and have to take online classes. Not having affordable access to the internet would preclude many persons from getting an education.

I use the internet everyday to buy needed items check the news and keep up with current events as television is always so full of other crap like tv ads from Verizon. For Verizon to pull this bs stunt just shows they're greedy their phone service is substandard and they have horrible services. If Verizon gets the chance to screw people up they're showing just how awful they truly are.

Making "slow" lanes on the internet is what is really happening here, Verizon and Comcast / Time Warner want to increase profits and wreck the internet. Different speeds of delivery will be have a negative impact on our functional benefits and enjoyment of the web. It will definitely cause a chilling effect on free speech. The Leaders of Congress and the FCC must strongly oppose companies who want to make fast and slow lanes on the internet.