Cyberspace Article #10 - Tolls on the internet?

URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060702108.html

Date: 8th June 2006

Publication: Lawrence Lessig and Robert W. McChesney - Washington Times

Summary: The Congress are voting and deciding on whether the internet should have "network neutrality". This term means that all content and webpages over the internet are treated all the same and do not have certain websites sent at a higher speed than others. If network neutrality is not voted for by the Congress, the owners of internet wires/cables have the right to discriminate and exploit the system of speed and the free transition between provider and consumer. These "gatekeepers" claim they will serve to provide "garentee quality of delivery" by adding another link to the chain and ask consumers to pay to get to certain websites. The journalist is very much against this and mentioned grass-roots coalition. Visit: savetheinternet.com

Impact: Millions of people are against this process and structure of the internet. Unless I am mistaken from any bias in the article, this whole situation sounds ridiculous! Are telephone companies and internet servers really that greedy as to add another link in the "fastness" of internet broadband just so they can regulate a price on viewing certain websites??? If this was to happen, many people would be outraged and the lowness companies have to get to suck the money out of us.