Many of my clients have websites, and most of them do not have deep pockets, and wouldn't be interested in paying ISPs for "premium" bandwidth to their sites. Would you? If not, I highly recommend you take a look at the information on www.savetheinternet.com. A brief run-down of the issue from their site:

What is this about?

This is about Internet freedom. "Network Neutrality" -- the First Amendment of the Internet -- ensures that the public can view the smallest blog just as easily as the largest corporate Web site by preventing Internet companies like AT&T from rigging the playing field for only the highest-paying sites.

But Internet providers like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast are spending millions of dollars lobbying Congress to gut Net Neutrality. If Congress doesn't take action now to implement meaningful network neutrality provisions, the future of the Internet is at risk.

What is network neutrality?

Network Neutrality — or "Net Neutrality" for short — is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet.

Net Neutrality ensures that all users can access the content or run the applications and devices of their choice. With Net Neutrality, the network's only job is to move data — not choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.

Net Neutrality is the reason why the Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation, and free speech online. It's why the Internet has become an unrivaled environment for open communications, civic involvement and free speech.

 

What you can do now:

  1. Sign this petition in support of Network Neutrality
  2. Contact your congresspeople about this issue
  3. Tell your friends & colleagues about the issue
  4. Learn more about it

Originally posted to floydinnovations.blogspot.com, transferred 12/11/2009