FTC States That ISPs Should Not Block Access http://www.freepress.net/news/13101 >From Ars Technica, December 28, 2005 By Jeremy Reimer
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a statement in principle that, in theory, should promote the idea of ³network neutrality,² the idea that Internet network operators should not prioritize or block network data based on content. The FTC stated that ISPs should not block access to any lawful content, services, or applications on the Internet. The statement is the first ray of hope for saving network neutrality, which has taken a beating recently. ISPs in some countries have been blocking VoIP data as ³inappropriate content² while others have announced or implemented plans for offering ³premium access² services that favor the ISP¹s own data while crippling the competition¹s. However, there is another angle that the network providers may use to chip away at network neutrality. It involves invoking the modern age¹s biggest bugaboo: security. The concept is to restrict consumer¹s access to parts of the Internet based on their computer software and hardware configuration. In the guise of protecting users from malware, certain software packages may be required to connect to parts of the Internet. The presence of software that wasn¹t on the whitelist, which would presumably include malware (although not the infamous Sony rootkit, as it would probably be flagged safe as coming from a ³trusted source²), would deny the user access. This would also encourage the movement to a ³two-tier² Internet, where customers would pay for ³premium² access to certain content (for example, an ISP¹s VoIP service). Besides the FTC, another major voice coming out in favor of network neutrality these days is none other than Microsoft. According to Chief Privacy Officer Peter Cullen, Microsoft is against ISPs doing anything that would restrict customers¹ choice of software. Certainly the software giant would not like to find its own software on ³quarantined lists.² Unlike the telcos and cable companies, Microsoft does not own the channel of distribution for its products. It relies on the Internet for distributing and updating much of its new web-centric software these days. And Microsoft has its own VoIP plans as well as new video content offerings over Windows Media Center Edition. Is the company planning on becoming a champion of network neutrality purely for its own interest, for those of consumers, or both? This article is from Ars Technica. If you found it informative and valuable, we strongly encourage you to visit their website and register an account to view all their articles on the web. Support quality journalism. You are a subscribed member of the infowarrior list. Visit www.infowarrior.org for list information or to unsubscribe. This message may be redistributed freely in its entirety. Any and all copyrights appearing in list messages are maintained by their respective owners.
