Google's Brin lobbies DC on Net neutrality

Internet companies have talked a lot about Net neutrality -- but their top executives haven't been making the visits to Capitol Hill that are a sign that it's truly a top corporate priority.

Until recently, that is. On Tuesday, Google co-founder Sergey Brin met with politicos in an effort to lobby them to support far-reaching regulations that would, in essence, block telecommunications firms from favoring some Internet sites over others.

"The thesis is that some content providers will pay for premium service. Why are they paying? Just because they feel charitable toward the telcos and ISPs?" Brin told reporters afterwards, according to a Reuters report. "I assume they are paying because otherwise they would have worse performance, or maybe it won't really work."

Brin met with Sen. John McCain, who's a member of the Senate Commerce Committee -- which oversees telecommunications laws and is planning a hearing next week. This week, the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a proposal to rewrite telecom laws that is opposed by Internet firms that allege its Net neutrality provisions aren't strong enough.