Tom Wheeler, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has passed a vote (3-2) that will keep the internet open and free as we now use it. Wheeler, like millions of other Americans who've spoken out against potential internet policies, aims to keep the access to the internet free of any government strong-arming. "No one should be able to constrict or prohibit access to free and open internet," Wheeler exclaimed after the policy was passed.

Many activists, such as the late Aaron Swartz, have fought against upcoming government interference with internet access as we know it. This fear and paranoia only worsened when news was released pertaining to the security of our nation and the actions used by the National Security Agency. Americans instantly realized that government agencies that once protected our privacy were now ripping it down without our knowledge.

In laymen's terms, the National Security Agency felt that it was of utmost importance to keep a private record of user data without consent or prior notice. This 'under-the-radar' style of data collection was put forth in order to catch terrorists and criminals off guard in their illegal behavior within digital mediums. Instead of using it to catch a handful of potential security threats, it landed the NSA and their employees on the front page of every news and blog on the internet. This revelation of security and data collection lead to what the bill that was passed in February of 2015.

Many may be asking themselves what this net neutrality policy being passed means to them and their internet usage. To put it simply: net neutrality puts the privacy and convenience into the hands of the user once again. Many individuals believe that their data and personal information is being held being on impenetrable servers that no one can access except themselves. On the contrary, this data is stored and sold to large corporations in order to make marketing and sales become more custom to the individual without their knowledge, and many other practices. With net neutrality policies in place, users can expect a new level of transparency and privacy in our consumption of data moving into the future. With honesty at the forefront of government agencies minds and actions, we can start to evolve in the way we interact with technology in the years to come.