Companies May Start Charging for Use of Web Sites by 2012

Do not let the Internet die! Internet users must band together to stop the Internet from dying! Dying as we know the Internet today.

As of now, we are free to surf the Web with no extra costs beyond our ISP fees. Need to buy a piece of art for your living room? Google "modern art." You will get your list of Web sites to go to. You may come across a small Web site with the best deal and unique piece of art you must have!

By 2012, you will not even stumble across that beloved art masterpiece from the small Web site. Why? At this time, large Internet companies are in talks of changing the way we use the Internet.

As "I Power" activists (see video link) use the analogy, "Think of how your TV works." You can choose the basic package. Or you can pay more and get HBO and other movie channels.

Well, that is exactly how the new Internet would work. For a certain fee you will get the large corporations such as Google, eBay, etc. If you want to have other Web sites that is going to cost you more. The majority of people will only pay for the larger companies which in turn will stop small Web sites. Literally. No one is going to visit their website if they have to pay more.

Will Associated Content and other article paying Web sites survive? How can Associated Content afford to pay online writers for articles if they have to pay a fee to merge with the giant corporations of the Internet to get higher traffic?

Some people count on this extra money for a living. Since I found Associated Content I have never been more content in my life. I am getting my voice out to the world. The poems and articles I have to share are leaving my filled mind so I can create on and on. Being paid is an incentive to help me stay inspired.

On the Snopes site there is an article that yes indeed it is true that major companies are in "talks" on this issue. It reminds me of big corporate stores coming into small towns and stomping over the little guy that has a mom and pop store. Bossy. Brutal. Taking over a person's livelihood; some small businesses passed down from previous generations.

The bully corporations that want to take over will have a higher speed, too, for you to find them. Right now all websites have "equal opportunity" for you to search and find them. We do not want broadband companies to chose our websites for us. We want freedom of choice!

We must stop this insanity before it is too late! We must all fight to keep our Internet rights! Keep network neutrality. How? Write, phone or e-mail your congressman to pass a bill. Do not only sign an e-mail chain letter.

We are the people, we want to keep our rights. Act now. Or lose later.

Sources:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/neutrality.asp
http://ipower.ning.com/netneutrality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2XPiqhN_Ns