Net Neutrality
• Internet Providers Ponder Bandwidth Limits For Heavy Users
• Comcast, Cox Caught Blocking BitTorrent
• Will Antitrust Law Save Net Neutrality?
• Few Are Neutral in Net Neutrality Battles
• Net Neutrality Supporters Testify
• Comcast Blocks Public From FCC Hearing
• Congress Gets Net Neutrality Legislation
• Time Warner To Test Metered Pricing For Broadband
• House Committee To Probe FCC
• FCC To Investigate Comcast For Blocking Net Traffic
• Verizon Wireless Opens Network to All Devices, Software
• Comcast Sued Over Internet Blocking
• Verizon Overrides Internet Searches With Its Own Results
• Comcast Blocks Subscribers From Some Services
• Verizon`s Abortion Block Raises Net Neutrality Concerns
• FTC Nixes Net Neutrality
• Wireless Spectrum May Hold Key To Net Neutrality
• Telcos Lift Block On FreeConference.Com
• FCC Takes Another Look at Net Neutrality
• AT&T Blocks Calls To Competing Conference Call Service
• Study: Ending Net Neutrality Would Hurt Consumers
• FCC, FTC Challenged To Protect Net Neutrality
• Net Neutrality Back on Congress` Agenda
• Net Neutrality Opponents Step Up PR Blitz
• AT&T Trumpets New TV Service
• Verizon Joins BellSouth in Retreat From Unexplained New DSL Fee
• FCC Nudges BellSouth Into Giving Up New DSL Fees
• FTC Head Urges "Caution" On Net Neutrality
• Net Neutrality May Derail Telecom Bill
• Google: No Net Neutrality Means Antitrust Fight
• Senate Prepares for Net Neutrality Showdown
• Congress Moves Quickly To Satisfy Telecoms` Net Neutrality, Cable Entry Demands
• Net Neutrality Gets Its Day In Congress
• Net Neutrality Wins Committee Vote In Congress
• Net Neutrality Attracts Surprising Allies
• Congress Wrestles with Net Neutrality
Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin says his agency will investigate allegations that Comcast blocks and slows access to the popular BitTorrent peer-to-peer file sharing service.
"Sure, we`re going to investigate and make sure that no consumer is going to be blocked," Martin said while speaking at the Consumer Electronics Association trade show.
He said the FCC supports the right of consumers to gain equal access to the Internet as part of its policy statement of principles, but allows an exception for networks to manage their traffic in certain circumstances.
"The question is going to arise: Are they reasonable network practices?" Martin said. "When they have reasonable network practices, they should disclose those and make those public."
Independent investigations by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Associated Press found that Comcast monitored usage of file-sharing applications such as BitTorrent, and when users tried to upload large files, Comcast would send messages blocking the communication. The messsages appeared to be from the user receiving the file.
The findings reignited the debate over "net neutrality," the principle that all Internet traffic should be treated equally.
The Save The Internet coalition filed a petition with the FCC urging it to take action against Comcast for violating net neutrality principles. Advocacy groups Free Press and Public Knowledge filed a complaint urging Comcast be fined $195,000 for every violation that was documented.
Comcast has also been served with at least one customer lawsuit claiming Comcast deceived customers with marketing that promised "unfettered access to all the Internet has to offer."
Comcast, for its part, insisted that any measures it took were part of what executive vice-president David Cohen said was "reasonable network management." "Comcast plans to work with the Commission in its desire to bring more transparency for consumers regarding broadband network management," Cohen said.
Singled out
Although the FCC has promised to study net neutrality issues in depth, it has largely adopted a laissez-faire attitude towards regulating or investigating cases of content blocking under Martin`s chairmanship.
Martin pushed hard to ensure the merger of AT&T and BellSouth was approved in Dec. 2006, a merger that only won support from other FCC commissioners when the telecom giant promised to support net neutrality on its networks for two years after the merger--a promise Martin said that his commission would not work hard to enforce.
But Martin, in contrast to his normally hands-off attitude toward telecoms, has zealously pursued a regulatory agenda against cable companies, asking for everything from "a la carte" programming tiers to the end of multi-dwelling unit (MDU) contracts between cable providers, apartment complexes, and condominiums.
