--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you have an internet service provider…" description: "\"If you have an internet service provider that's capable of slowing down other sites, or putting other sites out of business, or favoring their own frie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/michael-copps-51664_capable_if-you-have-an-internet-service-provider_220242.png" --- # If you have an internet service provider that's capable of… ![“If you have an internet service provider that's capable of slowing down other sites, or putting other sites out of business, or favoring their own friends and affiliates and customers who can pay for fast lanes, that's a horrible infringement on free speech. It's censorship by media monopolies…” quote by Michael Copps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/michael-copps-51664_capable_if-you-have-an-internet-service-provider_220242.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/michael-copps-51664_capable_if-you-have-an-internet-service-provider_220242.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/michael-copps-51664_capable_if-you-have-an-internet-service-provider_220242.png) > “If you have an internet service provider that's capable of slowing down other sites, or putting other sites out of business, or favoring their own friends and affiliates and customers who can pay for fast lanes, that's a horrible infringement on free speech. It's censorship by media monopolies. It's tragic: here we have a technology, the internet, that's capable really of being the town square of democracy, paved with broadband bricks, and we are letting it be taken over by a few gatekeepers. This is a first amendment issue; it's free speech versus corporate censorship.” [Michael Copps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-copps/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that ISPs that prioritize or block content threaten free speech, turning the internet into a censored platform controlled by a few powerful companies. **In simple terms:** ISPs can censor by favoring some sites over others, harming free expression. Key Takeaway Demand net neutrality and regulatory oversight. Themes free speech corporate power media control Mood concerned urgent Type political activist When to use this quote - policy advocacy - consumer awareness - legislative hearings Key Concepts net neutrality first amendment digital democracy Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens ensure open internet access? - What role should government play in regulating ISPs? A Different Perspective Regulation may stifle innovation or be hard to enforce globally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Censorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [First amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-amendment/) [Free speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-speech/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) ## Related quotes > [“Most Americans are aware of the brutality and injustice used to maintain the excesses of their selfish consumer society and empire. 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