When you log on in the morning, you expect Philoneist to pop up with the same speed and ease as any other content-provider on the Web. Legislation in the U.S. Senate threatens to tinker with the relationship between broadband companies and content providers, so that the former can charge the latter varying rates for different services. Net neutrality, the principle network-communications companies aim to eviscerate, helps make the Internet a level playing field for both individuals and networking companies with enormous market clout. In related news this week, Google opened a Political Action Committee to make its voice on this and similar matters louder in Washington.

A huge communications bill currently pending in the Senate looks like it will fall apart this year over the net neutrality issue. CNET reports companies against neutrality rallied yesterday in Washington, a day after Senate Republicans flogged truly idiotic poll results that prove people unfamiliar with Net neutrality rank it low on their list of priorities.