Net Neutrality is a package of legislation that would supposedly protect individuals from companies that own the internet pipe. This proposed legislation is a reaction to the proposal by fiber owners like AT&T who are considering charging extra fees to companies like Google, AOL, Yahoo and Microsoft in order to deliver their data to users. Not short of $$$ by any stretch of the imagination, some of these powerful internet player's have teamed up with political heavyweights to help give the U.S. government the juice to regulate the internet like the FCC regulates TV and Radio. I'm sure the government wouldn't screw up regulation of the internet like they have TV and Radio. Not!

The Net Neutrality concept would be a disaster for the internet for two main reasons.

Number one, the government, including the FCC, would be able to exercise regulatory control over the internet. So they would be free to terrorize companies based on accusations from competitors. Just recently, angry pro net neutrality supporters cooked up a theory that Cox communications was deliberately slowing down access to the Craigslist website because some customers were seeing a slower response. It turned out that Cox was implementing new security software that slowed access to certain websites. With Net Neutrality laws in place such occurences would prompt investigations that are costly to both tax payers and the companies involved.

Number two, the cost of upgrading the internet pipes would shift from companies that can afford it (like Amazon, AOL, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo) to small businesses and individuals who can't. Either that or the companies that own the pipe will sacrifice increased bandwidth to save money. Either way, the small guy will lose because the big guy will always find a way to deliver their data quicker.

Finally, people who argue about "tiered internets" are blind to the fact that the internet is already tiered. Businesses and corporations that have the resources can gain increased access to the internet and speedy services by opening up their pocketbook. Most cable and DSL internet companies offer "business class" services that provide higher speeds and improved tech support. Many people don't have access to these services and thus operate on a lower tier. And what of cell phone based data delivery? Another area that is tiered that no one ever mentions.

The tiered internet already exists. I don't want the Federal Government gaining the power to regulate the internet. And I don't want individuals and small business to bear the burden for infrastructure upgrades. That's why I say "no" to Net Neutrality.