'Net Neutrality' Defeated In The House... Senate To Debate Next

In the battle for the future of the internets, Round One is corporations 1, actual people 0.

AP (via CNN.com): House passes telecommunications bill-
'Net neutrality' dominates debate

...The vote [on a new telecommunications bill] came shortly after the House rejected a Democratic-backed amendment aimed at better protecting Internet users from pricing or access discrimination that Internet providers might apply. The issue of "net neutrality" dominated debate on the bill..

...[Democrats] also said the bill does not adequately address "net neutrality," preventing companies from discriminating against competitors or less affluent consumers by restricting access or charging higher fees.

The telephone and cable companies that provide the service say further regulation is unnecessary and would hamper efforts to expand high speed services.

Demanding assurances of net neutrality are content providers such as Google Inc., Microsoft Corp., and Yahoo! Inc., and Internet users ranging from the Christian Coalition to rock musicians...

...Without that amendment, said House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, "telecommunications and cable companies will be able to create toll lanes on the information superhighway. This strikes at the heart of the free and equal nature of the Internet."...

Don't be surprised to be paying premiums for more popular sites in the future, ala cable TV movie channels.

You can see how each congressman voted- here. Guess which side stood up for neutrality?

Of course, Round Two- the Senate- may yield a different outcome. Fingers crossed.

For what was at stake in this fight, see yesterday's excellent Washington Post editorial:
No Tolls on The Internet

More analysis from Huffington Post's Eat The Press section and TPM Cafe.