http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/06/AR2006020601624.html

Looks like Verizon agrees with AT&T that Google should pay for access to their customers. This is just silly. Vint Cerf is quoted in the article. Basically Vint argues that Google is paying for access (gotta connect those 'cheap servers' to the internet somehow) and Verizon's customers are also paying for access...now VZ wants to step in the middle.

Just as Google and others are helping kill the promise of the internet in China, Verizon and the other companies who want to invent new charges for the use of the web and even email (pay Yahoo & AOL ransom "postage" or your email goes to spam folder/gets delayed), which will turn it into an expensive, highly regulated utility for Americans. The freedom will be gone, the "evil" will have been done.

Unless you and I protest loudly enough, these threats to the internet WILL continue to expand. We must "Just say NO Evil!"

Or you and I will be wearing chains--different from those the Chinese wear, but chains regardless.