Plenty has been written on the failures of the Bush administration in the past several years – and today there is a new chapter that could have ramifications long after President Bush is gone – the Justice Department (that department led by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales until September 17th when his resignation goes into effect) has given the OK to allow for fees to be used to restrict Internet access. This is so utterly ridiculous and stupid that I really shouldn’t have to comment beyond that last sentence – but I will.

As I and many others have noted in the past several months, there is already a broadband problem is America, now the DOJ wants to further restrict the Internet for Americans. If they get their way, companies like Verizon and Comcast are going to create what will essentially be a “premium” Internet – one which you will only be able to access for a certain fee. They will destroy the greatest asset of the Internet, that it is the same, an equal playing field, for all.

From the AP article:

The agency said providing different levels of service is common, efficient and could satisfy consumers. As an example, it cited that the U.S. Postal Service charges customers different guarantees and speeds for package delivery, ranging from bulk mail to overnight delivery.

Oh yeah, that’s a great example. Why do they think people have stopped using snail mail so often and have migrated to email? Sure it’s naturally faster being a near-instantaneous transfer, but just imagine if all the email you wrote was charged 39 cents and up, with attachments being a few dollars or more. Many of us would be paying thousands of dollars a year to keep up the same level of communication with family, friends, and colleagues.

Just because something (somewhat) works for an archaic service like the Post Office, doesn’t mean it will work for something current. Not every decision has to be based on something in the past. New times call for new strategies, new ways of thinking.

The old men in the DOJ – especially those appointed by the Bush administration – should not be making these calls. If they can come to the conclusion that they have, they clearly do not understand the Internet. I want them out. Now.

Mark Cuban is prophetic. The Internet is about to get dead and boring because the DOJ may have just killed innovation on it. Google needs a better lobby in Washington.