FCC holds nation's second largest broadband provider broke network neutrality principles when it throttled P2P traffic from BitTorrent. FCC rejects Comcast contention that network throttling is part of routine network management by broadband service providers.In the first major test of the FCC's (Federal Communications Commission) network neutrality principles, the agency found Comcast guilty Aug. 1 of secretly degrading network traffic. On a 3-2 vote, the FCC ordered Comcast to stop blocking traffic, disclose to the FCC the full extent of the cable giant's traffic practices and to keep the public informed of its future network management plans.
The FCC said Comcast violated the agency's Internet policy when it blocked P2P traffic by BitTorrent. The agency also found that Comcast misled consumers when it did not properly disclose its P2P policy.
Voting for the sanctions were Republican Chairman Kevin Martin and Democratic Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein. Republicans Robert McDowell and Deborah Taylor Tate opposed the measure.
"Comcast was delaying subscribers' downloads and blocking their uploads," Martin said. "It was doing so 24/7, regardless of the amount of congestion on the network or how small the file might be."
Martin insisted the FCC's actions are not about regulating the Internet.
"Indeed, I have consistently opposed calls for legislation or rules to impose network neutrality," Martin said. "Like many other policy makers and members of Congress, I have said such legislation or rules are unnecessary, because the Commission already has the tools it needs to punish a bad actor."
McDowell, though, said the FCC does not have the rules in place to enforce network neutrality. Comcast also contends its practices are reasonable under FCC rules and even if the FCC found Comcast in violation, the agency has no authority to enforce its network neutrality principles. "The FCC overreaches with this order," McDowell said.
Copps called the vote a landmark decision for the FCC.
"Discrimination, per se, is not illegal," Copps said. "Unreasonable discrimination, though, is."
In August 2005, the FCC declared that consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of their choice, run applications and services of their choice and plug in and run legal devices of their choice. The FCC also said consumers have a right to competition among network providers, application and service providers and content providers.
Copps called for a fifth FCC network neutrality principle.
"A clearly stated principle of non-discrimination would prove the FCC is not having a one-night affair with network neutrality," Copps said. "The non-discrimination principle would also apply to wireless and wireline to assure all the freedoms of the Internet to everyone."
| | Reader Comments: Comcast Guilty of Net Neutrality Violations | | >>> Post your comment now!
| | I nos suspect Time-Warner (RoadRunner)Hello.
After a year of great Vonage service on TimeWarner (Road Runner) in Raleihg, NC, _ am now experience horrific drop-outs on local calls to... Posted At: 02-02-09 By: Anonymous | | | | | | network capacity and throttlingMy experience has been that certain cable companies have realized that home users are at work 9-5 M-F, and businesses are largely dormant outside... Posted At: 08-07-08 By: none of the above | | | | | | A user comment on this articleQuite true! Worked for 2 different broadband carriers and a business account ran 50%-60% higher at both. You get the same connection speed... Posted At: 08-06-08 By: hi_sped_tech | | | | | | A user comment on this articleSigh, wow, talk about bashing people. Someone here said that you can't parity price and I have to disagree. The main reason they sell to a business... Posted At: 08-04-08 By: Frapster | | | | | | Wow, I can see this is a sensitive subjectI can see this is a sensitive subject for some.
I have a couple of things to share with the people that I feel have a very good point. First, the... Posted At: 08-04-08 By: Billy.D.Internet | | | | | | Throttle profits thenWhy do we have to talk about throttling at all. Why aren't the companies like Comcast which charges exorbitant rates for Internet access and then... Posted At: 08-04-08 By: anonymous | | | | | | You are a DOLTSince when do you have to have a business connection to run a small business? Things like email, web browsing, stock trading, etc... DO NOT REQUIRE... Posted At: 08-04-08 By: CM | | | | | | >>> Post your comment now! | | | | | |
|
 |