I do not agree with the proposed changes under 17-108.

The internet has become an essential service to all people of the United States.  The principal of Net Neutrality should be maintained to ensure that a level playing field that is suitable for innovation, collaboration, and the free exchange of ideas.  The proposed changes serve only to entrench established players in the space, a dangerous cycle that will further consolidation of power and influence as well as preventing smaller firms from employing skilled employees in now competitive spaces.

Here is how the proposed rules will effect me personally, an individual who paid over $10000 in taxes last year.  I travel frequently for work, using internet hotspots at various businesses, cafes, and universities.  Under the proposed rules, I could be charged extra for different levels of connectivity or have certain connectivity blocked altogether.  For instance, to access my corporate email, I may be charged extra for AT&T VPN functionality and Outlook or Gmail access; in order to upload images to customers via Dropbox or Box cloud transfer services, I may be charged additional fees; using Skype or GoToMeeting to screenshare with colleagues, again, more fees.  In today's business environment, the internet is essential and competition is not a viable control given the physical infrastucture investments ISPs must make.  The only viable option is to regulate ISPs as a utility and ensure their networks serve all traffic equally.