Net Neutrality advocates from 25 cities gathered across the nation to rally the "Save the Internet" coalition. From Seattle to Montpelier, VT, demonstrators hoisted bright orange signs touting their
cause, presenting senators' offices with petitions signed by the thousands. They, of course, support net neutrality--the concept that network broadband usage should be an equal opportunity for all Web
publishers. Telecom and cable broadband providers would like to create a tiered service that provides one data transmission speed for all Web publishers and a faster "lane" for those willing to pay
more for faster delivery. The rallies were designed to ramp up momentum for the broader "Internet Freedom Preservation Act" supporting net neutrality that was narrowly defeated in a recent Senate
vote. In June, a similar measure was defeated by a much higher margin in the House of Representatives. By the looks of things, the net-neutrality campaign could use all the support it can get.
Especially in the House, popular opinion backs the telecom and cable providers, which provide Congress with lobbying dollars. Internet companies like Google and Amazon.com, supporters of net
neutrality, have lobbying dollars of their own--but they're far newer to Washington ways. An absence of regulations banning Internet service providers from favoring certain content would interfere
with users' ability to view the Web's content on a level field. As streaming video and other bandwidth-sucking phenomena become increasingly popular, the barrier to entry for new startups like YouTube
will suddenly be much greater. Opponents of the bill say anti-competitive measures are already in place at the federal level, overseen by the FCC.
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