Last week, the Federal Communications Commission repealed net neutrality rules.

So, what does that mean to consumers?

Pretend you’re reading an ad for a cable television services, and let’s say the standard rate is $49.99. However, you notice some of your favorite channels are not included, so you scan down and see that HBO and ESPN are available for an additional $14.95 per month.

Now, take that same thinking, and this time you’re selecting a residential internet provider. Let’s say it’s $59 for 5 megs, but now, because of the repeal of those net neutrality rules, you discover there are additional fees. With the repeal, soon you might have to purchase additional packages to gain access to your favorite sites like Netflix, Facebook, or Twitter.

It also gets ugly, however, when we start talking about business—basically, the future of communications technology. It’s here that repealing net neutrality rules makes no sense whatsoever. And frankly, the FCC’s own chief technology officer said, “The agency should give pause while they provide the public an opportunity to weigh in.”

Even large corporations like Facebook, Netflix, Google, and Twitter are in full support of keeping net neutrality rules in place. They believe, as I do, that only an open internet can spawn innovation and technology.

How does a startup like the next potential Google or Facebook, working out of a garage, have a level playing field to create a great innovative company? Unless they have seriously deep pockets, a new startup won’t be able to afford the “special lanes” of free-flowing access to their customers.

I do like FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, but we have grave differences of opinion on net neutrality. I think the thing I find most disturbing about his position is the absolute unwillingness to listen to the American public, including many large corporations.

Having followed this situation as the CEO of Fatbeam LLC and a board member of INCOMPAS, a national association that advocates for a free and competitive communications marketplace, I just don’t understand how the FCC can make this such an open-and-shut case.

I am encouraged to hear that Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and officials in other states are willing to step forward to enforce net neutrality in their states in light of the FCC’s recent position. Between the states stepping in and, likely, numerous lawsuits against the FCC, we have a chance to save the internet as we know it today. Keep in mind that in a recent poll, three out of four Republican voters were against the decision to repeal net neutrality regulations, and midterm elections are only 11 months away. So, in the words of Bill Murray, “we got that going for us, which is nice.”

Gregory D. Green is co-founder and CEO of Fatbeam LLC. Headquartered in Coeur d’Alene, Fatbeam is a competitive access provider delivering data transport services to education, business/enterprise, health care and government customers in the western U.S.