Sign-Up for Filtered Content–No Thanks Comcast
By Ken Hess
On Comcast’s front web page, they have the Top Five Questions Customers Ask but strangely none of them include: Are you going to filter out my content? The answer is probably yes. People who sign-up for broadband access most likely never ask that question.
I know I didn’t when I signed up with my provider. My assumption, which may have been incorrect, was that my connection is unfiltered with the published exceptions. My provider filters certain risky ports: Port 25 (both directions except for access to provided mail servers), port 80 (inbound), port 135 (both directions), Ports 136-139 (both directions), Port 445 (both directions), Port 1433 (inbound), Port 1434 (inbound), Port 1900 (both directions) and Port 27374 (both directions).
Am I OK with this? I guess I have to be but it certainly limits my ability to run a legitimate mail server on my local Linux system in my house for testing purposes. Some ports (135-139) are restricted just because some people are evil and heinous and try to disrupt your computer with them.
I don’t think ISPs should filter traffic or ports except where necessary for the legitimate safety of its users. That decision may be somewhat subjective but it serves no purpose to limit any legal content for any reason. I download a lot of ISO files for testing and research so I am glad I don’t have a bandwidth transfer maximum because I would certain exceed it right away.
ISPs provide a service but morality isn’t one of them. They have an obligation to protect their customers from disruption of service and to prevent illegal content (i.e. child pornography). I think Comcast and Verizon have gone too far in content filtering and are now about to have a Senate investigation on the matter.
Unfortunately we are somewhat trapped by these companies because in some places there is no competition for their services. My provider is the only source for bundled TV, Broadband Internet, and Telephone service in the area. I have no choice but to accept their Terms of Service. They can afford better lawyers than me and can afford the fight. The bottom line is take your business elsewhere if you can.
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on Saturday, October 27th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
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