[Off-topic] cajunflavoredbob:
This is specific to the USA, but I'm sure will be heading out across the borders soon enough.

Today is 21 December 2010. It marks an unprecedented time in our judicial system. Today, Net Neutrality begins to come to a close.

For those who don't know what Net Neutrality is, it is simply your current right to view, say, do, or read what ever you like (legally) from the Internet without restriction. This means that your ISP, or Internet Service Provider, cannot restrict you access to anything online that is within the bounds of the law. Without Net Neutrality, ISPs would be allowed to throttle, or limit, your bandwidth to competing markets, or surcharge you for using higher than normal bandwidth. How would you feel to have to pay per Gigabyte of downloads instead of a set monthly fee? This is precisely what some regulators are looking into.

Comcast is one of the largest media companies in the United states, controlling content providers across the nation. If this bill passes tomorrow, they would be allowed to charge you more money based on the amount of things you download. If you don't think you download very much, think again. On average, in one hour, a user may consume over over 3GB of data while watching HD content on Youtube. Now imagine that you were charged a rate per GB of download. Even a small rate would add up very quickly, would it not? This move would also give Comcast the power to throttle the content to users. Currently, ISPs are not allowed to influence data moving to and from your connection. This move will allow them to slow your connection whenever they please with or without reason. They don't need your permission but simply have to notify you of the change.

This bill gets even more lenient with wireless carriers. It goes so far to say that wireless content providers, such as AT&T and Verizon, can limit bandwidth on their networks and surcharge users for competing content. There is a plan already in the works with AT&T and Verizon to charge users different rates for accessing content providers like Facebook ($0.02 per MB of data), Youtube ($0.50 monthly fee), and Skype ($3 monthly fee). They aren't even shy about it. Both of these companies know they are wrong, but they also know there's nothing you can do to stop them.

The current bill is set to be approved tomorrow. These politicians are setting in motion a bill that 'fixes' problems that do not exist. It is the sole embodiment of the broadband lobbyists getting their way. This document is so riddled with loopholes it is clear that the FCC chairman has nothing more on his mind than the green in his wallet.

Considering our President vowed to "take a backseat to no one in my commitment to Net Neutrality," he is certainly not doing anything to stop this monstrosity of a bill from being passed. I can't wait to see how he and the FCC chairman try to put a positive spin on this horrible stain on our judicial system. It is the FCC chairman's job to protect the consumers from these very companies they are enabling. It is also taking the power away from the FCC and putting it into the hands of these companies to regulate the Internet in their own manner.

I'll be able to tell my children someday about how the FCC used to be on our side. It's too late now to fix this problem. I just felt it prudent to pass the information along and explain it to those who don't understand what is about to happen to the free society of the Internet in America.

If you decide you want to contact your politician about this, let your politician know. I know I have.

To find your member of Congress, go here: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/.

Or call the FCC members directly:

Main FCC number 1 (888) CALL-FCC

Julius Genachowski 1 (202) 418-1000

Michael Copps 1 (202) 418-2000

Robert M. McDowell 1 (202) 418-2200

Mignon Clyburn 1 (202) 418-2100

Meredith Attwell Baker 1 (202) 418-2400

Or, fax a letter to the FCC at 1 (866) 418-0232

Make your opinion heard!