The internet should NOT be controlled by big business or we're all screwed. This is only the beginning...

Already notice them slowing down my access to Imgflip. and the ink hasn't even dried.

Comcast's Streampix is just one example of the absolute minimum they want to accomplish by controlling the internet. This is 100% true: Comcast would throttle Netflix for their subscribers for about 2 minutes in the beginning of each show. The quality would be 480i to start then improve. Their Streampix service however, would be best quality from start to finish. The idea is that people would get pissed and leave Netflix and pick up their Streampix service instead, thus making more money. Netflix has crushed traditional TV providers in so many ways and places like Comcast absolutely hate it. Also, because "their" network has to keep up with the customer demand. As movies get better quality and downloads get larger they see it as a loss instead of improvement required for their service.

To top that off, and this is pure experience and speculation, I worked for Comcast for a short period of time and I can tell you their big brother mentality and forced control is stunning. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that, without Net Neutrality, they would monitor and "spy" on all of their members and worse. It's a terrifying thought that, unfortunately, is a very realistic probability.

See my other reply. I need to check but it is coming across as monopoly services if they do that.

I did read your other reply and thank you for the article. Faster internet is totally possible but telecom companies just don't want to shell out money to improve their networks in neighborhoods that aren't large enough to justify the cost. Case-in-point, I live in one such neighborhood. Comcast owns the footprint in my town, including my neighborhood, but want to charge the development an absurd amount of money to re-run the lines, which used to be Time Warner. The development refuses. So, that leaves us but 2 options: DSL through Century Link or Satellite. The DSL running through my neighborhood is a whopping 6 Mbp/s download and .5 Mbp/s upload. I live in the very last house close enough to the DSL hub and get a BLAZING 15 Mbp/s download and 1.5 Mbp/s upload. My house is very much the "lucky" one as there are few here that get it.

Satellite just blows - almost as bad as dial-up.

I have to suffer this because Century Link calls our neighborhood (about 500 homes) part of their "legacy" network. There is absolutely no time frame for when it's getting upgraded and I have asked many times. They, more or less, told me to go f**k myself. I pay, on promotion, $45/mth for the service.

Locally, I've put out the feelers to get some knowledgeable feedback on what it will take to bring a community ISP to the area. I have a feeling that it's going to become possible because many of the voucher students do their classes online, and the telecoms/cable choking may interfere with the state's online classes. I have to put their agenda first, but I figure, even if there's a program I don't like, I can use it to get what I do like. ;-} Since the fed has decided to ignore the citizens over the telecoms, it has to take place in the communities that are going to be affected. As you put it, you don't have high speed where you live, but if you can get the grass roots started, or know somebody that can, you may get high speed for less a lot sooner than a telecom would give you.

This scares me

It should. Companies like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T are lobbying hard with TONS of money so they can do all this stuff and I'm sure a hell of a lot more. They are NOT good companies by any means. Hell, Comcast wanted to buy Time Warner for $80 BILLION. The government wouldn't allow it. Why?

Cause they would have what is considered a MONOPOLY. As you may know, those are illegal in the USA because of people like Rockefeller, Carnegie and bank tycoons like J P Morgan. Roosevelt worked tirelessly to break that shit up, which ultimately brought the country out of depression and into the modern era.

Well lets hope what Roosevelt worked for remains strong!

Seriously? 22 GB is NOTHING.

Ridiculous pricing, like you see, is just the beginning. If they get their way you better believe big brother will become very real. To say nothing of the fact less people will even be able to afford it. Stuff like what you see should make you RAGE.

There are alternatives. Look to Chatanooga TN and how they handled Big Business that didn't want to provide service.

What these companies like Verizon and Comcast want to do is just horrid to the extreme and they'll be near unchecked doing it. My wife brought up a great question - notice the max plans state 485+ websites. What about those like imgflip that AREN'T going to shell out shit tons of money to these hosers? How will people get to business sites like the local plumber or something? WHO THE HELL PAYS $90/mth + MEMBERSHIP FOR NETFLIX?!?!

I've been a HUGE supporter of Net Neutrality for a long time now. I've also been an IT professional for a long time. I can tell you that if it does in fact get reversed it's going to be absolutely terrible for everyone but the big ISP's giving access.

As a public utility, internet providers have to contract with localities. IIRC, Comcast was the local ISP for Chattanooga but, because so many people lived in rural areas, they chose not to service everyone that needed service. Chattanooga, who were already providing electricity to the area, piggy-backed their own line to the electric lines (don't ask me the details, I'm not tech savvy enough to explain) and were able to not only provide ISP service to ALL residents within the county, but at speeds that Comcast never dreamed of. And for less than Comcast charged. Here's just one article.

http://www.businessinsider.com/chattanooga-tennessee-big-internet-companies-terrified-2014-7

With the net neutrality removed, this may be the only way people can get the service they need. Check locally, then start the petitions to start the wheels rolling on taking on the giants.