The corporate toll on the Internet

Could we, just like China, soon be faced with restrictions as to what we can do on the Internet...According to this article, yes. AT&T just announced plans to charge online services for using the internet. This is a HUGE problem, and it would destroy everything the internet stands for -- a democratic, free, and equallly-available-for-everyone-service...This would favor big companies, as they would be able to pay these fines and it would restrict the availability and content of the internet to the user. If, indeed, AT&T will be able to charge web compaines some kind of toll in order for them to use their fast-speed DSL connection, then this will make AT&T "a gatekeeper in your home." I think this is a very scary development and everyone should be concerned with this. If the big compaines start "owning" the internet, than the internet will not be what it is now...It will not allow the user to search for anything without restrictions. Even more distrubing might be the fact that they can not only restrict certain conenet, but they can prioritise certain web content, therefore putting more money into the hands of the big companies and making it impossible for the small companies or even the private users to use the internet to its fullest capability.
I think AT&T needs to be stopped, before they take over the entire internet.....