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Rivals Google, Yahoo, eBay, Microsoft, Amazon and others have come together to fight a bill that has been approved by a House committee by a vote of 42 to 12, to allow Internet carriers such as AT&T to charge providers extra for faster delivery of services. Analysts contend that this further paves the way for a two-tiered Internet system and the end to network neutrality. Internet carriers argue, however, that Web sites that, for example, feature audio and video that necessitates significant bandwidth should be able to pay extra so that users will have less of a wait time for downloading. Carriers contend that they would use the money earned for expansion of capacity for the Internet. Failing to convince the House, Web companies are now looking toward the Senate, where there has been an introduction of at least one bill requiring network neutrality, and where there are likely to be several more. Opponents to a tiered Internet say that such a plan will kill the openness that has allowed the Web to grow and innovate over the past decade. Startups are likely to suffer the most since they will likely be unable to pay the extra fees required, and will instead give way to more established players who can afford the extra costs. The issue of network neutrality is part of the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006, which offers a significant revamping of various telecommunications laws.
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