Quietus, you nail the problem squarely. The network providers are in a hissy fit that they're not seeing the profits that Google, Yahoo and Amazon are making, and rather than attempting to compete with a better product (the Free Market way) they're attempting to put chokepoints and legislation in their favor (the Soviet way). I have nothing but contempt for them.
Depressing conclusions reaced at Ars Technica:
Any sort of Congressional endorsement of network neutrality seems a long shot at this point. Last month, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced net neutrality legislation in the Senate that would have had the same effect as the defeated House amendment. However, given the current climate in Washington, its prospects do not appear strong. Part of the blame for that may lay with Google, Microsoft, and other companies that rely on the Internet for a significant chunk of their business. According to a C|net report, the telecoms are far more invested in lobbying than their opponents, spending over three times the amount of money. Maybe it's time for Google, Yahoo!, and Amazon to build a serious presence on Capitol Hill.
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