What will become of the internet? St. Louisans fear a world without net neutrality

On a recent morning, Emily Hall filled two online orders at Main Street Books, the St. Charles shop her family has owned for four years. As she worked, customers came to buy books and chat about upcoming author events they’d heard about or seen on the store’s website. But Hall fears that her bustling store could see a drop in business if the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday votes to repeal net neutrality , landmark rules that guarantee an open internet. As a small bookseller, Hall worries that a repeal might mean that retail giants like Amazon will have more resources to buy access to viewers, or to pay for higher speeds than less wealthy competitors. That might affect consumers, too, because companies may have to pass on higher fees to their customers.