AT&T wants us to trust them. It's ok for them to have a monopoly over Internet access for many consumers in areas without multiple broadband options, they say, no need to require neutrality or open access because they'll never use their power to favor certain connections over others for censorship, only to improve service to consumers.

On Sunday at Lollaplooza, they did some major service-improving by censoring part of the webcast of Pearl Jam's concert. Pearl Jam used some lyrics criticizing President Bush, and AT&T cut it out.

According to the Pearl Jam release, AT&T apologized and said the cut was a mistake. But when a communication provider has a monopoly, as AT&T does over the Lollapalooza online content, and they give themselves the power to cut content at will, these things will happen. Pearl Jam has the megaphone to get the word out and force AT&T to apologize, whether the mistake was genuine or just a hasty retreat. Not everyone has Pearl Jam's power. The Internet enables anyone to speak, from Pearl Jam to the average citizen, but only if their telco doesn't "mistakenly" cut their speech.