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FCC chairman ready to take on ISPs over net neutrality

25 February 2008 22:45 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 6 comments

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said today that "The commission is ready, willing and able to step in if necessary to correct any practices that are ongoing today." He made the statement at today's hearing at Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet and Society.

Although the hearing was officially a general inquiring into network management practices of broadband internet providers, it was prompted by last year's revelation that Comcast is "managing" their network by disconnecting BitTorrent transfers from customer computers.

Based on statements today the cable giant likely has more to explain than why their practice of inserting their own data into BitTorrent uploads originating on their network telling the computers on each end that the other has ended the connection.

Of course that question will certainly be on the list, but Martin hinted at another issue that may be harder for Comcast officials to explain away. "Consumers need to know if and how network management practices distinguish between different applications, so they can configure their own applications and systems properly," he said.

For many people that's at the heart of the Comcast story. Company representatives have consistently delivered carefully worded statements defending practices they've refused to detail, beyond repeating over and over again that they don't block any traffic.

Of course the validity of that statement depends on what your definition of block is. In the same way that a red light doesn't "block" you from continuing forward, or the posted speed limit doesn't "block" you from going as fast as your car is capable, Comcast's practice doesn't block BitTorrent uploads.

Permalink to this article | Topic: Lawsuits & Legislation

Comcast invests in P2P streaming startup (20 May 2008)

Comcast considers official limits on downloads (7 May 2008)

Comcast wants a P2P "Bill of Rights" (16 April 2008)

Comcast HD quality suffers under compression (3 April 2008)

FCC chairman hints at action against Comcast (11 March 2008)

Comcast limits public access to FCC hearing by paying to fill seats (27 February 2008)

FCC hearing Monday on ISPs' network management practices open to public (25 February 2008)

BitTorrent developers working on encryption to defeat ISP interference (18 February 2008)

Comcast defends BitTorrent blocking in response to FCC (13 February 2008)

FCC to consider net neutrality and ISP network management (12 February 2008)

Investment company calls Comcast CEO's tenure a Comcastrophe (19 January 2008)

Time Warner to start bandwidth caps (17 January 2008)

With FCC investigation looming, Comcast repeats same old argument (14 January 2008)

CES 2008: FCC chairman promises investigation of complaints against Comcast (9 January 2008)

FCC Chairman has Comcast in his sights (2 December 2007)

EFF details evidence of Comcast traffic management (29 November 2007)

Mark Cuban upset with P2P freeloaders (21 November 2007)

Comcast in more hot water over blocked content (16 November 2007)

Comcast gets sued for blocking BitTorrent traffic (15 November 2007)

FCC looks to deregulate cable companies further (12 November 2007)

FCC complaint filed against Comcast regarding "network management" (3 November 2007)

Comcast employees put in the middle of traffic shaping debate (29 October 2007)

Senators urge committee chairman to hold Net Neutrality hearing (26 October 2007)

Comcast P2P filtering energizes Net Neutrality debate (26 October 2007)

Comcast P2P traffic filtering confirmed (19 October 2007)

Ex-Comcast customers just want to know what the limits are (9 September 2007)

Comcast denies filtering Bittorrent traffic (22 August 2007)

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Discuss this article!
snofleas (Newbie) 26 February 2008 3:20
Thank you Comcast, for continually letting down the customer. [ + quote]
21Q (Senior Member) 26 February 2008 7:53
If Comcast weren't the fastest ISP in my area I would have switched already, but the othe companies are painstakingly slow. I just hope that this is resolved, and that net neutrality doesn't go to the way side. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 26 February 2008 9:29
*Originally posted by 21Q:* If Comcast weren't the fastest ISP in my area I would have switched already, but the othe companies are painstakingly slow. I just hope that this is resolved, and that net neutrality doesn't go to the way side. just wait till your service is halved and you are left to wonder WTF is happening 0-o anyway Comcast is government sanctioned monopoly, with the millions states get they wont do anything about it, the FCC might...if they don;t don;t put down the current bulldog..er chairman. [ + quote]
drach (Newbie) 26 February 2008 20:06
*Quote:* In the same way that a red light doesn't "block" you from continuing forward, or the posted speed limit doesn't "block" you from going as fast as your car is capable, Comcast's practice doesn't block BitTorrent uploads. I think that is one of the best analogies I have ever heard. [ + quote]
DXR88 (Member) 26 February 2008 22:33
*Quote:* In the same way that a red light doesn't "block" you from continuing forward, or the posted speed limit doesn't "block" you from going as fast as your car is capable, Comcast's practice doesn't block BitTorrent uploads. Thats the worst Analogies Iv'ever Heard of before in my life, because comcast is like the Govenator of my car, sure it goes 140 MPH stock,but because of the Govenator(comcast)under my hood it only does 45 MPH. Unless i rip The Govenator(Comcast) out of my car it will never go stock speed. and in the near future if Comcast isnt Stop, instead of not alowing my car to go over 45. they will just hit the destroy engine button on your car, (and call the authority's and have your lisenced Taken away)your right to brows the internet if your a bit slow on my analogies. [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 19 April 2008 19:44
*Originally posted by snofleas:* Thank you Comcast, for continually letting down the customer. I was going to write something but i guess the above statement covers my feeling to a Tee. [ + quote]