Our company has been in the business of providing online applications and e-commerce solutions since 1999.  I’ve personally been using the Internet since the early 1980’s (pre-worldwide web).  
The original backbone of the Internet was originally built-out based on university computers who all contributed freely to the exchange of messages and data.  As the Internet expanded a great number of companies and individuals continued to contribute to expand the Internet – not just ISP’s like AT&T, Comcast, Charter, and others.  In fact, those companies contributed very little to the evolution of the Internet.  They invested in access (ISP) equipment which they already charge fees for.
Today we host our own servers for our Internet applications.  They live in a co-lo facility that we pay for.  We purchased the computers and communications equipment.  We maintain the equipment and the network.  We also build and maintain all the applications.  We have invested millions of dollars since 1999 making our solutions available and making sure they work.
The ISP’s have not contributed a single cent to that effort.  A consumer who wants to access one of our services will travel across a network the ISP’s do not own, and did not build, to access applications on servers they do not own, and did not develop.  Giving them the ability to profit from investments they have not made is simply not fair.
The fact of the matter is that most of these companies are regional monopolies. In our office we can only get Internet access from Charter.  They have invested in the cable connection to our home.  They charge for that connection and profit handsomely because there is NO competition in this area.  In fact, most businesses/consumers are in the same boat.
So, why should they have the ability to charge for the performance of applications that live “in” the Internet that they have not participated in creating?  Once again, the vast majority of the network was not built by these companies, is not maintained by these companies, and they will not be making future investments in this infrastructure – they DON’T EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
The idea that this would somehow spur investment on the part of the ISP’s is ridiculous.  Why would they spend money to charge extra fees when they can charge additional fees without that investment?  That would not make ANY business sense.  Companies like AT&T do have business sense.
The only way to encourage growth in online applications and e-commerce is to keep an open and unrestricted Internet.  We should not give ISP’s the ability to profit from our investment.  We should also not give international competitors an edge.
We cannot trust ISP’s (often regional monopolies) or network providers to manage this.  The Internet is a PUBLIC GOOD.  We all contribute to it.  It should be strictly regulated and net neutrality should be preserved at all costs.  This is the only way we can maintain our global leadership.