I build websites for small companies and individuals. Sometimes they need me to upload very large files to a web host so it can set up for streaming media. Would I have to pay my telco or ISP more money to do this and thus charge more to my customers? Is that good for the economy?

And what about their websites? What if these websites have streaming media? Will visitors to these sites be discouraged from listening or viewing the streaming media if they have to pay more?

I have a friend who runs and Internet radio site. Internet radio is already suffering due to stupid laws put in place by lobbyists trying to protect outdated business models in the music industry. If network neutrality is rescinded, Internet radio is dead.

I’m based in Seattle. Imagine if there was no network neutrality for the last 15 years. Imagine if people were afraid or impatient to download a large file of any kind.

Would we have ever heard of Netscape? Would Linux ever have taken off? Would there have ever been any browser wars? Would anyone have ever heard of Amazon, Real Networks or Macromedia?

I’ve looked at the numbers. Verizon, Qwest, Comcast and the rest of the telcos aren’t really hurting. They’ve already got enormous captive markets and they are growing plenty of new ones thanks to mobile phones, satellite broadband and so on.

Wasn’t there a lot press about 5 years ago about kilometers of dark optical fiber these guys had over-built? What happened to all that excess capacity? How can these telcos complain about not having the capacity?!

None of them will ever admit it but this is clearly a scheme to boost their already healthy bottom line and stock prices. They think we aren’t paying attention. They think they’ll be able to pull a fast one on us. They are counting on our apathy.

Well I’ve been paying attention and something is rotten in the District of Columbia. We aren’t going to let this one happen due to public apath—not this time!