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"We've received hundreds of phone calls," Congressman Eric Massa's spokesman tells me. "The Congressman will take all steps necessary to prevent this from happening," Jared Smith added, and he will be looking into antitrust issues. Rochester New York is part of Massa's district, and they are hopping mad about TWC's plans to cap their Internet use.

Massa is a decorated veteran of 24 years in the Navy, not a political hothead. He was a Republican most of his life until he changed parties because of the war in Iraq. He is also a cancer survivor.

In Greensboro, North Carolina residents and politicians are also angry. Melissa Buscher, Time Warner Cable's spokesperson for the Carolinas had some very odd comments to The News and Record. “The data caps are a matter of necessity. The company’s cable infrastructure simply wasn’t built for the high-quality video and audio now available all over the Internet. Heavy users are causing slower speeds for everyone by taking up much of the bandwidth over which information can travel."  Actually, for several years Time Warner has been claiming they are raising their speeds, and my experience here in new York confirms that.

TWC has created a "nightmare" a top Wall Street analyst emails me. The antitrust issues could be significant, especially because the new leaders of the Justice Department are committed to using antitrust law more effectively. More competitive markets, including Japan and France, have nothing like these caps.

Whether open net access is right or wrong - readers know my opinion - fighting against NN is a foolish strategy for any company. It was a deeply felt part of the President's program statement. The man who put it there - Jules Genachowski - is the nominee for FCC Chairman.

Congressman Eric Massa calls on Time Warner to eliminate Broadband Internet Cap

CORNING, NY - Today Congressman Eric Massa announced his opposition to Time Warner's monopolistic plan to charge customers for broadband internet based on the amount of information they download. Time Warner's decision to make this move is part of an ill-conceived test marketing plan which will charge customers for internet usage much like cell phones. The problem is that by doing so, broadband internet users' usage will obviously take a steep decline or else middle income families will see outrageous internet bills.

"Just at a time when access to information is driving our economic recovery, Time Warner is moving to stagnate the 21st Century technology needed to rebuild America," said Congressman Eric Massa.

Additionally, now that the internet has become an essential communications tool used by most Americans, there are broad and sweeping First Amendment issues at stake as well.

"Internet access is as essential to our economy as water is to our survival," said Congressman Eric Massa. "With limited choices in broadband providers, and virtual monopolies in many market areas, I view this as nothing more than a large corporation making a move to force customers into paying more money. I firmly oppose capping internet usage and I will be taking a leadership role in stopping this outrageous, job killing initiative."