FCC alleges that Comcast blocks P2P traffic despite network conditions
Comcast is here for the good of humanity and to provided the good citizens of the United States unfettered access to the tubes (aka the Internet). Yeah, dream on. Though the company denies claims that it has throttled P2P traffic at times and even completely blocked it, it said if it did so it was due to network conditions at the time. The FCC isn’t convinced.
InfoWorld reports the Chariman of the US FCC (Federal Communications Commission) Kevin Martin said its actions appeared to "block uploads of a significant portion of subscribers" even during times of low network traffic.
He continued,
"It does not appear that this technique was used only to occasionally delay traffic at particular nodes suffering from network congestion at that time," Martin told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. "Based on testimony we’ve received thus far, this equipment was typically deployed over a wider geographic area or system, and is not even capable of knowing when an individual … segment of the network is congested."
The FCC has already held two hearings about complaints on Comcast and I dare say it will be hearing a third. A spokesperson for the company asserts that it only throttles P2P related traffic when there is network congestion.
"As has always been our policy, Comcast does not, has not, and will not block any websites or online applications, including peer-to-peer services."
Comcast will forgive me if I doubt its word on the matter. It’s not like the company is in extisence for the good of humanity.
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