The information superhighway could soon come with tolls.

Tech giants Google and Verizon have been in discussions for months in an attempt to hammer out an agreement over how information is piped over the Internet — a pact that will likely allow phone and cable companies to charge content providers to get data to users faster.

Such a deal, if adopted as the industry template, could end the long-standing ideal known as net neutrality — the notion that Internet service providers such as Verizon should treat all Web traffic the same.

Under one possible scenario, Internet service providers such as Verizon would be allowed to push YouTube videos to Web browsers faster than other videos if Google, YouTube’s owner, pays a fee, said a source familiar with the talks.

The two tech giants are expected to use any finalized plan as a blueprint to lobby the Federal Communications Commission and Congress for change. But the two companies could also try to get the industry to agree to implement their plan independent of governmental action, people said.

In response to reports of a deal between Google and Verizon, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski told reporters that it would be “unacceptable” for Internet service providers to charge for access to a higher speed toll road.

That Google is now talking about a plan that could wipe out net neutrality is a major shift for the search giant. For years, Google has been pushing for equal treatment of all Web traffic. CEO Eric Schmidt, as far back as 2006, urged Congress to vote down a bill that would have done away with equal access to the Internet.

Google is seeking compromise in the face of an April defeat in which a federal appeals court ruled that the FCC has no place telling In ternet service providers how to direct their Web traffic.

Also, Congress has indi cated that getting laws passed in favor of net neu trality could be an uphill battle.

Neither Google nor Veri zon responded to requests for comment. But Schmidt this week confirmed that the tech giant has backed off its previous stance.

“We’re trying to find so lutions that bridge be tween sort of the ‘hard- core net neutrality or else’ view and the historic tele com view of no such agree ment,” Schmidt told re porters at a conference, according to CNET.

“Our goal is an In ternet policy frame work that ensures openness and account ability, and incorpo rates specific FCC au thority, while maintaining invest ment and innovation,” said a Verizon spokes man.

Consumer advocates say they will oppose a pay-for-play plan because it gives deep-pocketed content providers like Google an edge over smaller competitors.

“It would shut out the future Google and the next Facebook,” said Andrew Jay Schwartzman of Media Access Project. kwhitehouse@nypost.com