All of you free internet people have lost your mind. First of all the internet was not even invented by a business. We all own the internet. ISP’s are only the gateway, they have built the infrastructure to access it. Thus we pay a fee to them for that connectivity. For monopolies to decide which websites we can access and how fast we can access them is akin to allowing your local gas or power company to charge you whatever they want. Supply and demand means nothing when you will literally freeze to death because the monopoly will charge whatever people can afford and that’s basically everything you have when it comes to life or death. The public utility makes a ton of sense because again they are only the gateway between us and a publicly owned distribution system.
First of all, there is no public infrastructure.
"the gateway between us and a publicly owned distribution system."
The entire internet, the backbone included, is privately owned and operated.
As far as I can tell there are AT LEAST 4 primary backbone carriers...big stuff. Multiple 10gbs channels on 100gbs fiber strands via DWDM. All they do is move bits. They charge other companies to hook up to them so that they can deliver their bits. They charge per bit. Every bit is the same.
Then there are access providers. There are at least 4 big ones who have the bulk of customers/consumers...but there's at least 100 of them nationwide. They plow the access media to the house...fiber or copper or wireless. They are almost universally regulated already. Each is generally and mostly a locally regulated utility with and exclusive territory...at least when the media first wen into the gournd.
Then there are the content providers. The big ones connect to the backbone at speeds that dwarf the typical access provider. Think Amazon, Google, Yahoo, Apple...several other premier properties. But there are also well-used smaller properties like FR, Drudge, Breitbart etc.
The issue that drove "Net Neutrality" and in fact gave the whole concept a name is this: The Backbone Providers got together and proposed to some of the leading content providers (particularly Netflix) a NEW service, one that would drive the cable companies (see access providers) out of business eventually. They proposed they could, with the newest, expensive technology, ensure a particular throughput, and a CONSISTENT throughput through the backbone with a Quality of Service, Service.
Because it cost 100's of millions to deploy nationwide...maybe billions...they saw no reason not to derive revenue from a large scale capital investment. And, of note, Netflix was perfectly willing to pay for this enhanced service as it would be a boon to their business model.
But all the other content providers freaked out and go worried that they, too, would have to pay to receive ENHANCED service, and therefore COMPETE.
So they got together and lobbied the government to take over the internet.
Because of ignorant people like you.