Time Warner Abandons Plan to Gouge You - For Now

Cable and internet providers have been selling us that line for a few years now - ever since high-speed connections sprang up throughout the country. But these doomsday warnings hit a fever pitch when free online video sites like YouTube (GOOG) and Hulu began competing with network TV programming. As viewership drops, traditional media companies have to supplement lost revenue via other means.

Their inevitable solution: Make heavy Internet users pay through the nose for the privilege.