People like to geek out over the minutiae of Web 2.0, but bigger shifts are underway below the application layer.

In a broader sense, the move to create what is essentially a preferred class of e-mail is a major change in the economics of the Internet.

This Tuesday the Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing to consider legislation for what has been called Net neutrality -- effectively banning Internet access companies from giving preferred status to certain providers of content.

The hearing will be available as a live webcast, beginning at 10:00 AM Eastern.

"From AOL's perspective, this is an opportunity to earn a significant amount of money from the sale of stamps," he said. "But it's bad for the industry and bad for consumers. A lot of e-mailers won't be able to afford it."

Too few people realize that in order to experience the fruits of creative destruction, you have to put up with the destruction. And too many businesses are driven by egos that, out of fear for the future, remain bound to their traditions despite their waning effectiveness.

Who is advising the Committee (led by none other than Ted "bridge to nowhere" Stevens, of Alaska) on these issues? Let's review the list of witnesses:

Vint Cerf, Google
Lawrence Lessig, Stanford
Kyle Dixon, of The Progress & Freedom Foundation
Gregory Sidak, Georgetown University
Gary Bachula, Internet2
The CEO of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association
The CEO of the United States Telecom Association
The CEO of Vonage

None have yet posted their testimony.

In case you missed the bridge story back in October:

Republicans in Congress say they are serious about cutting spending, but they learned yesterday to keep their hands off the "Bridge to Nowhere."

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), a staunch opponent of pork barrel spending, tried to block $453 million for two Alaska bridges that had been tucked into the recent highway bill. Coburn wanted to redirect the money to the Interstate 10 bridge across Lake Pontchartrain, a major thoroughfare that was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

Sen. Ted Stevens, the veteran Alaska Republican, was dramatic in his response. "I don't kid people," Stevens roared. "If the Senate decides to discriminate against our state ... I will resign from this body."

This reminds me of the Post's explanation surrounding the Cheney-Leahy flap:

We don't play games at The Washington Post and use dashes.

13 February 2006 -- UPDATE: Alaska Makes Plans to Counter Impression That It's Greedy

Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski says it is time for an image makeover. He wants the state to hire a public relations firm to change the perception of Alaska and its people as greedy for federal money and too willing to plunder the environment for profit.