FCC Continues Press for Clarity In Web Providers' Delivery Practices

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is bringing his campaign for unfettered Internet access to Silicon Valley Thursday, putting Comcast Corp. on the spot, despite the cable giant's efforts to back away from a policy of limiting the way customers download some Internet files. Chairman Martin will preside over a seven-hour hearing at Stanford University that will explore what responsibilities Internet providers have to deliver traffic fairly, and what phone and cable companies should be telling consumers about the services they can expect for their $40 or $60 a month. "We'll focus on the disclosure issues and the broader impact these practices are having from the consumer perspective," Chairman Martin said in an interview Wednesday. If an Internet provider decides to limit traffic in some way to manage its network, that should be "clearly and reasonably disclosed to the consumer," Chairman Martin says. "If people are going to upgrade [their Internet service] they need to understand what they're getting." Comcast declined an FCC invitation to attend Thursday's hearing.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120839670866721767.html?mod=todays_us_ma...
(requires subscription)

Comedy Central Sends An Omen: South Park and the Upcoming FCC Hearing (spoiler alert!)
http://www.wetmachine.com//item/1154