Having a free and open internet is crucial to defending rights to freedom of speech and the press, but in recent weeks, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been faced with voting on wether or not to keep net neutrality, or the idea that internet service providers cannot make a certain kind of broadband data or streaming slower or more expensive than another. For example, a provider could not make Netflix streaming slower than Amazon Prime streaming because the company has a partnership with Amazon.

On Feb. 26th, the FCC voted in favor of net neutrality in a close three to two vote. “This is a victory for free speech, plain and simple. Americans use the Internet not just to work and play, but to discuss politics and learn about the world around them,” said American Civil Liberties Union legislative counselor Gabe Rottman in an interview with NPR. “We are still sifting through the full details of the new rules, but the main point is that the Internet, the primary place where Americans exercise their right to free expression, remains open to all voices and points of view.”

The win for net neutrality is a huge step forward in a world where information is largely gathered using the internet. However, the battle for an open interest is not over yet. Big data companies like AT&T and Verizon, and the congressmen that support them are still trying to dismantle these laws.