Broadband Bills On the Rise?

You might just wonder where Internet usage is heading if online video continues to capture a wider audience. Think YouTube and podcasting.

With social networking and video services gaining popularity, there are rumblings from telecoms companies that the new demand could place a heavier load on broadband usage.

And what does that mean? For starter, broadband bills would rise as more and more users turn to online video sites to transfer data. This is hypothetical at the moment but it could become reality.

According to reports, some telcos "want to charge websites for the speedy delivery of streaming video, television, movies and other high-bandwidth data to their customers."

Writing in his Popular Science column on CNN.com, Tim Folger indicates that some Internet service providers (ISPs) are lobbying Congress to block laws that would prevent a two-tiered Internet. Which means a fast lane for those who can afford it and a slow lane for the rest of us. Crumbs!

Internet video still represents a small percentage of web traffic but it's still growing. Just imagine if there's an explosion of usage somewhere down the Internet highway...

That will be the day.