Dozens of people across New Jersey held rallies outside Verizon stores to protest the proposed repeal of net neutrality laws.

The current laws ban internet service providers (ISPs) from speeding up or slowing down traffic to and from specific sites. They also prevent those providers from blocking certain sites.

The Federal Communications Commission wants to repeal these laws and is planning a vote next week.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai says that net neutrality laws discourage investments that could provide better and faster online access. He says that the new laws would force ISPs to be transparent about their services and management policies, and then would let the market decide.

Protesters say that the repeal will be bad for individuals as well as small businesses.

Protests were held in Paramus, Nutley, Union, New Brunswick and Manalapan.