Groups seek stop to Comcast Net meddling - Comcast caught blocking communications

http://www.thestate.com/technology-wire/story/217359.html">Groups seek stop to Comcast Net meddling

Posted on Fri, Nov. 02, 2007

By PETER SVENSSON - AP Technology Writer

NEW YORK --

A coalition of consumer groups and legal scholars on Thursday formally asked the Federal
Communications Commission to stop Comcast Corp. from interfering with its subscribers' file sharing.

Two of the groups are also asking the FCC to fine Comcast $195,000 for every affected subscriber.

The petitions will be the first real test of the FCC's stance on "Net Neutrality," the long-standing principle that Internet traffic be treated equally by carriers. The agency has a policy supporting the concept but its position hasn't been tested in a real-world case.

Last month, The Associated Press reported that Comcast hindered file sharing by subscribers who used BitTorrent, a popular file-sharing program. The AP's tests confirmed claims by users who also noticed interference with some file-sharing applications.

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Comcast denies that it blocks file sharing, but acknowledged last week that it was "delaying" some of the traffic between computers that share files.

In practice, the company blocks requests from users who are trying to retrieve files from a Comcast subscriber's computer for a period of time. But it eventually lets the requests through if they are repeated.

In one AP test, a request went through after 10 minutes of trying. The technology does not directly affect downloads of BitTorrent files by Comcast subscribers, only uploads.

Comcast has said the interference is intended to improve the Internet experience for all its subscribers, noting that a relatively small number of file sharers is enough to slow down its network.

In response to the filings, David Cohen, an executive vice president at Comcast, said that the FCC's policies recognize that ISPs need to manage the traffic on their networks.

But if other ISPs follow in Comcast's footsteps, file sharing would essentially crawl to a halt.
While the technology is a popular way to illegally share copyright movies and music, legal uses
are proliferating, particularly in movie distribution.

"They're blocking an innovative application that could be a competitor to cable TV," said Marvin Ammori, general counsel at Free Press, one of the advocacy groups behind the petition to the FCC.

The petition asks the commission to immediately declare that Comcast is violating the FCC's policy.

The co-signers are Consumer Federation of America; Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports;
Media Access Project; Public Knowledge; and professors at the Internet practices of the Yale, Harvard and Stanford law schools.

Free Press and Public Knowledge are separately filing a formal complaint that asks the FCC to demand a "forfeiture" from Comcast of $195,000 per affected subscriber.

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An investigation by the Associated Press caught Comcast secretly inspecting online

communications and crippling users' ability to share information with one another.

This is a gross violation of Net Neutrality --

the longstanding principle that ensures a free and open Internet.

Free Press has filed a legal complaint demanding that the FCC take action

to protect the Internet's free flow of information.

By sending the letter you join the fight to stop Comcast and other gatekeepers.

Fill out the form below to send your letter to the FCC telling them to protect Net Neutrality.

http://action.freepress.net/campaign/comcastviolates?rk=UdxHF%2d711%5f6JE