Net Neutrality

Net Neutrality is a big issue in Washington. 

 

Basically, the telcos and cable companies, like AT&T, want to be able to charge companies like Yahoo or Google a fee for routing their traffic over their lines.  In return, they would offer more high speed.

 

So, for example, if you get your internet from AT&T, and then go to Yahoo's home page, you would get a faster speed, but Yahoo would get charged.

 

The web sites (Google, Yahoo, etc) oppose this and have pushed lawmakers to adopt a net neutrality law, which says that the internet providers have to charge the same price, no matter what web site you go to.

 

So, the telcos/cable companies are lobbying against net neutrality, while the web sites, and a lot of internet users, are pushing for it.

 

Republicans are tending to side with the cable/telcos, while Democrats are siding with the internet companies.

 

So far, the telecos/cables have kept net neutrality out of two bills, but Forbes magazine views the politicians as the real winners  - they have incentive to drag it out and collect lobbying fees from both sides.