In this episode of Llamame Anything, Vanessa Francesca Ortega delves into the complex world of internet inequality. Discover what lies behind the illusion of digital equality and how infrastructure, geography, and policy create a divided online experience. Explore the realities of a two-tiered internet, the consequences of repealing net neutrality, and what these mean for power and access.

Through personal anecdotes and expert insights, learn about the global impact of unequal internet speeds and how it affects individuals and communities differently. From the persistence of broadband deserts to the rise of community network initiatives, this episode uncovers the challenges and the fight for digital justice.

Join us as we discuss the need for an internet that serves everyone equally, advocating for digital rights as civil rights and striving for a future where the internet becomes a true tool for empowerment and equality.

Resources and Citations

NET NEUTRALITY AND POLICY CONTEXT

• FCC Reinstates Net Neutrality (April 2025) Federal Communications Commission (FCC) https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-restores-net-neutrality (Latest ruling reinstating net neutrality protections in the U.S. after years of legal and political challenges.)
• What Is Net Neutrality? Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) https://www.eff.org/issues/net-neutrality (A comprehensive guide to net neutrality, how it works, and why it matters.)
• Timeline: The Fight Over Net Neutrality Free Press https://www.freepress.net/issues/internet-access/net-neutrality (Covers major legal and grassroots developments from 2005–present.)

DIGITAL DIVIDE AND INFRASTRUCTURE DISPARITIES

• BroadbandNow Research: Internet Availability by ZIP Code https://broadbandnow.com/research/fcc-broadband-map-errors (Investigates flaws in FCC broadband data and how it obscures inequities in underserved communities.)
• Digital Redlining: Access Denied The Markup, 2022 https://themarkup.org/internet/2022/10/19/why-isp-infrastructure-skips-poor-neighborhoods (Explains how ISPs prioritize wealthier neighborhoods, leaving communities of color disconnected.)
• Pew Research Center: Internet Use by Race and Income https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband/ (Data on who has home Internet access, broken down by demographic.)

VOICES FROM THE FIELD

• The Equitable Internet Initiative (Detroit Community Technology Project) https://detroitcommunitytech.org/eii (Grassroots broadband justice effort training digital stewards and building local mesh networks.)
• NDN Collective: Broadband Sovereignty https://ndncollective.org (Indigenous-led organization advocating for infrastructure and digital sovereignty in Native communities.)

TOOLS & ACTION

• Fight for the Future – Take Action for Net Neutrality - https://www.battleforthenet.com (Coalition-driven action hub for contacting lawmakers and demanding open Internet protections.)

• Municipal Broadband Map (Institute for Local Self-Reliance) - https://muninetworks.org/communitymap (See where cities are building their own public Internet systems.)