Net neutrality shouldn't be a controversial issue.

Pipelines and power grids, telephones and railroads, all must comply with common carrier regulations that prohibit discrimination and special treatment.

There's little reason for the internet to be any different. Comcast shouldn't be allowed to give special treatment to MSNBC.com, which it owns, over FoxNews.com. AT&T shouldn't be allowed to sell mini versions of the internet where you can only see a limited selection of websites.

The promise of the internet exists in its open, unrestricted nature. Established players like Amazon and Netflix have to compete on a level playing field with new startups. Ending net neutrality would allow tech giants to buy a faster lane and preferential treatment, threatening to quash competition in the cradle. If that happens, say goodbye to the internet as we know it.

Nevertheless, the Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote on rolling back its net neutrality regulations on Thursday, Dec. 14.

Protesters across the nation are taking to the streets today to voice their disgust with this decision. Here in Houston they'll be outside the Verizon Store in downtown Houston at 930 Main Street starting at 5 p.m.

The tech trade group Internet Association is pushing for the FCC to delay its vote.

This would be a smart move. The upcoming decision on net neutrality has been tarnished by questions about whether official public comments to the FCC were littered with fraudulent submissions.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman found that hundreds of thousands of comments may have illegally impersonated New York residents. An analysis of the public record by data scientist Jeff Kao estimates that more than one million comments in support of net neutrality repeal may have been "spam" - fake comments. And around 50,000 consumer complaints appear to have been excluded from the public record, according to a Freedom of Information Act filing by the National Hispanic Media Coalition.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has received a letter signed by 28 Democratic senators asking him to conduct a thorough and fair evaluation of the public's views before moving forward with a vote.

"These reports raise serious concerns as to whether the record the FCC is currently relying on has been tampered with and merits the full attention of, and investigation by, the FCC before votes on this item are cast," they wrote.

Don't expect Pai to acquiesce.

The former associate general counsel for Verizon has made it clear that he thinks net neutrality rules stifle innovation by telecommunications companies.

That's true, to a certain extent. Net neutrality does stifle some kinds of innovation. It prevents telecoms from using the sort of gimmicks that allow banks to develop new and fascinating ways to charge fees on your checking account, or the bizarre synergy schemes involving free valet parking at the Hobby Center if you drive a Lexus.

If we lose net neutrality, expect to see more corporate contraptions designed to promote Wall Street concerns and squeeze consumers for cash in exchange for worse service and fewer options. Don't like it? Too bad, you might be stuck. More than 50 million U.S. households lack any competition in the broadband market. If Pai wants to see innovation, maybe he should start by breaking up these lumbering corporate giants.

The internet doesn't exist to serve as a cash cow for telecoms and the American people must not tolerate regulations that allow these near-monopolies to occupy the internet with their own private toll booths.