FYI: Net nuetrality under attack as Comcast starts blocking/throttling bittorrent clients.

[jim]

(from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21376597/)

Comcast blocks some Internet traffic
Tests confirm data discrimination by number 2 U.S. service provider

By Peter Svensson

Updated: 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Comcast Corp. actively interferes with attempts by some of its
high-speed Internet subscribers to share files online, a move that runs
counter to the tradition of treating all types of Net traffic equally.

The interference, which The Associated Press confirmed through nationwide
tests, is the most drastic example yet of data discrimination by a U.S.
Internet service provider. It involves company computers masquerading as
those of its users.

If widely applied by other ISPs, the technology Comcast is using would be a
crippling blow to the BitTorrent, eDonkey and Gnutella file-sharing
networks. While these are mainly known as sources of copyright music,
software and movies, BitTorrent in particular is emerging as a legitimate
tool for quickly disseminating legal content.

The principle of equal treatment of traffic, called "Net Neutrality" by
proponents, is not enshrined in law but supported by some regulations. Most
of the debate around the issue has centered on tentative plans, now
postponed, by large Internet carriers to offer preferential treatment of
traffic from certain content providers for a fee.
Comcast's interference, on the other hand, appears to be an aggressive way
of managing its network to keep file-sharing traffic from swallowing too
much bandwidth and affecting the Internet speeds of other subscribers.

Number two provider
Comcast, the nation's largest cable TV operator and No. 2 Internet provider,
would not specifically address the practice, but spokesman Charlie Douglas
confirmed that it uses sophisticated methods to keep Net connections running
smoothly.

"Comcast does not block access to any applications, including BitTorrent,"
he said.

Douglas would not specify what the company means by "access" _ Comcast
subscribers can download BitTorrent files without hindrance. Only uploads of
complete files are blocked or delayed by the company, as indicated by AP
tests.

But with "peer-to-peer" technology, users exchange files with each other,
and one person's upload is another's download. That means Comcast's blocking
of certain uploads has repercussions in the global network of file sharers.

 

[Guest]

So? A LOT of ISPs bar peer-to-peer!!!!

 

[NT Canuck]

So? A LOT of ISPs bar peer-to-peer!!!!

"jim" wrote:

Actually most ISP's have restrictions on the use of Servers,
ISP's may also have some hardware trouble mananging the
constant slew of 'connections' kept alive and transmitting data
that items like file sharing applications use to their advantage.
In other words it's become so large and commonplace that
every subscriber to a service bears part of the financial
burden to maintain a much more expensive topology than
was anticipated when services were intitially rendered.

I'd suspect a better move on part of ISP's is to request
file servers and people using daily file sharing to upgrade
into business class plans that manage server use correctly.

Other than that many ISP's have or maintain newsgroups
where file sharing is akin to a sales feature, without some
degree of music or video/movie download ability there
isn't much use for an internet connection in many homes.

An option might be an ISP branded file sharing application
that is hard coded for connection limits as well as band-
width speed regulated to stay within ISP abilities. The
typical legitimate exchange of data within an ISP is
often 'cached' at their local servers, this saves them
(and you) the cost of retrieving the exact same file
or program over 'toll fee lines' again and again.

ISP's also pay for network access when crossing
into or using another firm/ISP's lines..this also
comes into play as each and every ISP or State
that a signal passes through has ability to regulate
the signal passing through it's lines or hardware.

There is no magic direct connection of one computer
to another computer any more than driving from
your house to another house across the continent.
Or in many cases today across the Oceans and
through foreign nations and airspace (wireless).

NT Canuck
'Seek and ye shall find'

 

[Guest]

A lot of ISPs in Australia, won't wear peer-to-peer, business plan or not!!
They claim it is clogging the Network.
True, but we have paid for the bandwidth.