Lets not forget about the common carriage rule. Where companies like SBC are not allowed tiered access on the telephone service. Why in the hell would they be allow to do it with the internet service?
I think that it all stems from this new IPTV service all these companies are trying to push. It saves them a lot of time/money if they don't have to expand the infrastructure of the current network. They just shrink and prioritize the consumer internet traffic. That is wrong.
The infrastructure is too important to other companies like Microsoft and Google (and more importantly my company) to have to pay extra. Could you imagine how much Microsoft would have to pay to have fast downloads for every update that they release (>^(>O_o)> It would probably make them rethink the 85% rule.
Moveon.org is circulating a petition right now (so far 250,000 signatures) to send to the house and, if the bill makes it that far without a network neutrality clause, the senate.
They call it "save the internet" I call it keep the internet a cheap place to do business.
http://civic.moveon.org/save_the_internet/ 
