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NetNeutrality posts

Filed under: Web services, VoIP, web 2.0, Web

US Government plans to enforce Net Neutrality

There's been a long-raging debate as to just whether the US Government will enforce net neutrality - 2006 saw the Internet Non-Discrimination Act proposed, in 2007 the Department of Justice announced it wouldn't be legislating net neutrality and the ISPs have openly admitted they will actively manage traffic.

However, that may soon be at an end. According to the Wall Street Journal, the FCC is set to announce new rules on Monday that mean telcos "couldn't block or slow access to legal services or sites that are a drain on their networks or offered by rivals". Even more surprisingly, the rules will also apply to mobile providers - including AT&T who've taken steps to block bandwidth-hogging iPhone applications like SlingPlayer.

Unfortunately, it's highly likely that the telcos will fight any legislation that enforces net neutrality. In particular, mobile carriers (already scared stiff by the network demands of data-intensive devices like the iPhone) will be none-too-happy that their already-saturated networks could potentially be swamped.

With the likes of Google actively campaigning in favour of neutrality - and the Obama administration intending to push through this campaign promise - there's no shortage of people in favour of ensuring this series of tubes remains free and neutral. However, with plenty at stake and deep pockets to lobby any legislation, the service providers will no doubt stall, block and vocally oppose the FCC's announcements come Monday morning .

[Via WSJ]

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Filed under: Fun, Internet, Utilities, Windows, web 2.0

Want to help Azureus (Vuze) fight BitTorrent throttling ISPs?

no speed limitIf you like yourself some BitTorrent downloading action, we recommend you help Azureus fight BitTorrent throttling ISPs like Comcast, Adelphia, SusCom, and others by installing the Network Status Monitor plug-in for Azureus / Vuze. The plug-in monitors your network traffic for anything that might prohibit your computer from utilizing its broadband connection to the fullest.

Lately, some ISPs have been using BitTorrent throttling techniques to prevent BitTorrent programs from working properly. It is understandable that ISPs need to manage their networks in order to ensure that every customer gets a fair share of the bandwidth pie, but as individuals, traffic throttling techniques take away from the service we were promised when signing up.

If you choose to share the data collected via the Network Status Monitor, the Azureus team may analyze and compare it with the data collected from other users in order to develop ways of circumventing BitTorrent throttling. The plug-in only works on Windows machines for now, but Mac support is coming.

Filed under: Internet, Social Software

Time Warner's use-based pricing model to fuel the net neutrality issue

The TubesNet Neutrality is a subject that has impassioned internet enthusiasts and techies alike. However trying to get the broader public to take notice of the issue has been challenging. A few net neutrality bills have been brought up, but quickly fizzled out in Congress. Perhaps the fine Senators don't really understand the "Tubes". Or is it they and the public have had no real reason to care so far?

This week, Time Warner gave us a reason to care. It has come to light that Time Warner will start billing internet customers based on usage, rather than a flat-fee as they've been doing for years. That is, rather than expanding the network to accommodate and enhance customer experience, Time Warner will start charging new customers more.

To take this line of thinking further, how about this scenario: if your parents or grandparents only use the Internet a couple of times a week to check photos of their little grandchildren and to check their email - will they be able to pay less? We highly doubt it. The monopolistic ISP's have have only one intent in mind - bilking us for all the cash they possibly can.

We hope the net neutrality flames is fanned by this move before it's too late. It's time to start talking, blogging, and contacting your legistlator to tell him or her your viewpoint on this issue.

[via Freedom to Tinker]

Filed under: Internet, P2P

The $1.77 trillion FCC fine for Comcast - Official inquiry begins

Comcast, you're fineLast week, news broke that Comcast may be paying a steep FCC fine to the tune of $1.77 trillion dollars for throttling peer-to-peer traffic such as BitTorrent. Yesterday, Comcast confirmed that it has received official word that it is under the investigation of the FCC, but an FCC spokesman would not confirm the letter, saying that "Enforcement Bureau communications of this type were not to be made public," according to Multichannel News.

If you had hopes that Comcast is going to be held responsible for even a fraction of that $1.77 trillion, think again. Although it made some ripples in the blogosphere, Comcast will most likely wiggle out of this one just fine. Apparently, FCC policies aren't exactly formal "rules" and as such are flexible when it comes to "network management."

So what does Comcast say? Naturally, that they are in accordance with FCC policies since "reasonable network management is necessary for the good of all customers." In other words, it's fine if we throttle your BitTorrent connection since it's for the good of all. Wonderful. They are probably going to resolve this all over a cup of coffee anyway. "Oh that neutrality thing? Yea, you know, peak times, things get busy, networks need to be managed - always have to keep in mind the common good, right?"

[via paidContent.org]

Filed under: Internet, Social Software

AT&T openly says it may filter Internet content

Net Neutrality
According to Brad Stone over at The New York Times, AT&T openly stated at CES that they may start filtering Internet content. This is a very big announcement because most ISPs (even Comcast) have up until this point claimed to be net neutral.

So much for being a wide-open pathway to the Information Superhighway. AT&T is reportedly talking to technology companies and the RIAA/MPAA regarding the implication of digital fingerprinting techniques at the networking level. Our friends at civil rights organizations are opposing such measures by implying that they impede on free speech. Some are going as far as to say that these legal provisions stop uses such as parody.

When asked about how their customers would respond to network level filtering, AT&T stated: "Whatever we do has to pass muster with consumers and with policy standards. There is going to be a spotlight on it."

Yeah, there will definitely be a spotlight. We say: Let the free market reign.

Filed under: Internet, Social Software

Comcast could receive hefty FCC fine for throttling Bit Torrent traffic

ComcastRemember October's news of Comcast throttling Bit Torrent traffic? The debacle not only created a firestorm of bad press for the nation's largest cable provider but also re-ignited the nationwide debate about Net Neutrality. We had numerous signs that Comcast was inhibiting our use of this legal and legitimate file transfer protocol, but to have the AP catch them red handed was icing on the cake.

To add to our pleasure, we learned today that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has finally taken notice of Comcast's indiscretion as well. According to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, a group of consumer advocates and legal scholars have asked the commission to look into Comcast discriminating against specific types of data (read: Bit Torrent). The groups have also requested the FCC to fine Comcast $195,000 per affected subscribers. In case you were wondering, at last report, Comcast has 9.1 million subscribers.

We don't really think Comcast will be forced to fork out the projected $1.77 trillion, but we do hope they get scraped through the mud on this one. They completely disregarded their entire customer base and should receive far more than just bad press as a result of this. If you are a company and you're going to filter network traffic, be transparent and disclose it up front. If not, be ready to pay up to Mr. Martin.

[via Mashable]

Filed under: Features, Google, Googleholic

Googleholic - August 4th 2006

googleholicThe Video Issue. In this issue we cover:
  • Google Demo Reel
  • Google Click Fraud: The Movie
  • The Secret of Google's Search Engine
  • Google's First TV ad
  • Vint Cerf on Net Neutrality
  • Google is looking for a Chef in Chelsea
  • What News sources does Google index?
  • Picasa Web Albums
  • Gpokr

Read more →

Filed under: Internet

The Internet Non-Discrimination Act of 2006

Senator Ron WydenSo Verizon and every other mega-ISP think Google and other content providers are getting a free ride and should be paying on both ends and Comcast might be throttling Vonage to death, none of seems like a trend that's good for consumers, much less the future of the Internet. Luckily I'm not alone: U.S. senator from Oregon Ron Wyden has introduced the Internet Non-Discrimination Act of 2006, which the press is describing as the "net neutrality bill." From Russell Shaw's post on his ZDNet blog, the bill's key points are:
  • Preventing interfering with, blocking, degrading, altering, modifying or changing traffic on the Internet;
  • Prohibiting creation of a priority lane where content providers can buy quicker access to customers, while those who don’t pay the fee are left in the slow lane;
  • Allowing consumers to choose which devices they use to connect to the Internet while they are on the Internet;
  • Ensuring that consumers have non-discriminatory access and service;
  • Having a transparent system whereby consumers, Internet content, and applications companies have access to the rates, terms, and conditions for Internet service.
Senator Wyden seems like a very clueful guy who knows what kind of slippery slope Verizon and its ilk are about to create. He says, "I am not going to allow a network operator to say a person who buys online for J.Crew can stay on hold for five minutes, and where they make the Banana Republic customer wait 30 minutes." He intends to make his net neutrality bill part of a large telecom package that'll be making its way through the senate this year. Whether net neutrality will be able to overcome telecom's deep-pocketed lobbyists, however, is another question entirely. Head over to Shaw's blog for more quotes from Wyden and the full text of the bill.

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