Slashdot says there will be no fines, he just wants to make sure that Comcast phases out its discriminatory traffic management :/
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/07/12/1153241 ~Nelson~ Karen Rustad wrote: > As someone who has been a Comcast customer-by-default since graduation, all > I can say is YAAAAYYYYYYYY! > > I really hope they get smacked into next week. > > -- Karen > > On Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 10:11 AM, Kevin Driscoll <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > >> The title says it all. >> >> "Martin will circulate an order recommending enforcement action >> against the company on Friday among his fellow commissioners, who will >> vote on the measure at an open meeting on Aug. 1." >> >> Kevin >> >> -- >> >> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080711/ap_on_hi_te/internet_regulation >> Identica >> >> > > > >> FCC chief says Comcast violated Internet rules >> >> By JOHN DUNBAR, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 4 minutes ago >> >> WASHINGTON - The head of the Federal Communications Commission said >> Thursday he will recommend that the nation's largest cable company be >> punished for violating agency principles that guarantee customers open >> access to the Internet. >> ADVERTISEMENT >> >> The potentially precedent-setting move stems from a complaint against >> Comcast Corp. that the company had blocked Internet traffic among >> users of a certain type of "file sharing" software that allows them to >> exchange large amounts of data. >> >> "The commission has adopted a set of principles that protects >> consumers access to the Internet," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin told The >> Associated Press late Thursday. "We found that Comcast's actions in >> this instance violated our principles." >> >> Martin said Comcast has "arbitrarily" blocked Internet access, >> regardless of the level of traffic, and failed to disclose to >> consumers that it was doing so. >> >> Company spokeswoman Sena Fitzmaurice on Thursday denied that Comcast >> blocks Internet content or services and that the "carefully limited >> measures that Comcast takes to manage traffic on its broadband network >> are a reasonable part" of the company's strategy to ensure all >> customers receive quality service. >> >> Martin will circulate an order recommending enforcement action against >> the company on Friday among his fellow commissioners, who will vote on >> the measure at an open meeting on Aug. 1. >> >> The action was in response to a complaint filed by Free Press and >> Public Knowledge, nonprofit groups that advocate for "network >> neutrality," the idea that all Internet content should be treated >> equally. >> >> Martin's order would require Comcast to stop its practice of blocking; >> provide details to the commission on the extent and manner in which >> the practice has been used; and to disclose to consumers details on >> future plans for managing its network going forward. >> >> The FCC approved a policy statement in September 2005 that outlined a >> set of principles meant to ensure that broadband networks are "widely >> deployed, open, affordable and accessible to all consumers." >> >> The principles, however, are "subject to reasonable network management." >> >> Comcast argues that the agency's policy statement is not enforceable >> and that the commission has "never before provided any guidance on >> what it means by 'reasonable network management.'" >> >> If a majority of commissioners side with Martin, it will be the first >> test of the agency's network neutrality principles. Members of both >> the House and Senate have sponsored network neutrality bills, but they >> have never come close to becoming law. >> >> Large Internet service providers have fought against such regulation, >> arguing that it is a solution in search of a problem and that >> companies that spend billions on their networks must be free to manage >> traffic. >> >> Ben Scott, federal policy chief for Free Press said Thursday night the >> FCC's action may have consequences for other Internet providers going >> forward. >> >> "This is going to be a bellwether," he said. >> >> Martin, a Republican, will likely get support from the two Democrats >> on the commission, who are both proponents of the network neutrality >> concept. Those three votes would be enough for a majority on the >> five-member commission. >> _______________________________________________ >> Discuss mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://freeculture.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> >> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > [email protected] > http://freeculture.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss > _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list [email protected] http://freeculture.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss
