I usually don’t talk about political issues on this blog.  I have other outlets for my political views.  However, I do feel it is important to take note of an important issue that came up before the United States Senate this week — or, rather, did not come up.

The Net Neutrality bill would have allowed certain companies to decide which sites opened more quickly on your computer.  In short, web sites of large companies would have an edge, opening up more quickly than web sites of smaller businesses.  Major telephone and cable companies like AT&T, Verizon, BellSouth, Comcast, and Time Warner, wanted to eliminate Net Neutrality.  Sites that pay them most would open more quickly than others.  William L. Smith, chief technology officer for BellSouth Corp., based in Atlanta, told the Washington Post, “… and analysts that an Internet service provider such as his firm should be able, for example, to charge Yahoo Inc. for the opportunity to have its search site load faster than that of Google Inc.”  (Washington Post, Dec. 1, 2005)

The bill died this week in the Senate.  The Senate adjourned without calling it.

But the House of Representatives passed it.