Democracy Wire

What happens when a community treats the Internet like an essential service?

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took a huge step towards closing the digital divide. The agency voted to begin modernizing the Lifeline program to connect low-income households to the Internet. Lifeline, established by the Reagan Administration in 1985, originally helped make landline telephone service affordable for low-income households. In 2008, the FCC reformed Lifeline to allow subsidies for mobile telephones. Currently, qualifying households are eligible for a $9.25 subsidy.

Americans want the Internet to remain free and open. The Appropriations Committee’s majority has demonstrated just how out of touch it is with the nation.

Net neutrality rules that would keep the Internet open, and all data treated equally, are set to take effect on Friday, but some in Congress are still trying to reverse the Federal Communications Commission’s historic decision to protect the Open Internet.

The fight to close the digital divide just got a major boost.

Here's some of our favorite reactions to today's big FCC vote