No this isn't a joke. This is happening right now. Telcos Verizon, AT&T, Comcast and they few others have basically bought the internet from congress. If they get thier way the way the net has worked for years will be a memorey. They want to charge site an access fee to reach thier subscribers at the speed they currently do. Read more here. This is in congress right now.
ima start my own internet it'll be like a big wan. and there will be no ppaying for internet access. and, sites with popups on them and advertisements (to a certain extent) will have pay for their evilness and help fund the internet.