The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to repeal net neutrality on Dec. 14. Net neutrality is the principle that internet service providers should treat everything on the internet equally and never prevent customers from viewing certain websites.

Immediately after net neutrality was repealed, a panic about whether or not access to favorite internet activities would still be an option occurred. In reality, the change is not as big of a deal as it seems.

In 2015 the FCC voted in favor of net neutrality, meaning net neutrality has only been in existence for less than two years. Two years ago the internet was not equal and yet access to online sources was not difficult.

Although providers can block what is seen by their customers, they are required to publish any blocking, suppressing, or preferencing. This allows cites to be evaluated without uncertainty. If a company promises customers that they are being anti-competitive or anti-consumer but breaks their claims, the company can be punished by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

While companies are now allowed to regulate the internet freely, many will be making little to no changes to avoid the eye of lawmakers and angry customers. Some of the bigger internet companies, AT&T and Comcast for instance, promise that consumers will not see a change in web services.

Net neutrality seems like a big deal to a world run by the internet, but in actuality it will change very little.