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Network Neutrality
Can the Feds enforce Network Neutrality? Maybe not
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 16, 2008 - 7:08amFederal regulators may be probing Comcast's throttling of BitTorrent filesharing traffic, but can they actually take action, if they choose, against the company or any other broadband provider on Net neutrality grounds? The answer may not be simple.
Cox Blocking P2P, Too
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 15, 2008 - 4:44pmCox Communications appears to be impeding peer-to-peer file-sharing traffic in the same way Comcast has, according to a study released Thursday by a German research group. Germany’s Max Planck Institute, a science and technology research organization, analyzed a test of 8,175 Internet volunteers around the world and found that both Comcast and Cox are blocking peer-to-peer traffic over their networks during all hours of the day.
Canadian Internet Regulation
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 15, 2008 - 4:43pmThe Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission, Canada's broadcast watchdog, will hold public hearings next year into the thorny question of extending its purview to the Internet, a medium that it deemed a regulatory-free zone nearly a decade ago.
A surfeit of Network Neutrality legislation
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 15, 2008 - 6:25amLast updated: May 15, 2008 - 6:28am
Largely due to the continued dumb statements and actions of a few apparently PR-challenged carriers, the Network Neutrality issue is alive and well in the U.S. Since any issue like this seems to create a legislative void that must be filled, we now have at least two Network Neutrality-related bills for Congress to consider.
McCormick Says No to Network Neutrality
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 14, 2008 - 7:01pmLast updated: May 15, 2008 - 6:31am
Speaking to Washington, D.C.-based First Amendment think tank The Media Institute for the first time, Walter McCormick, president of USTelecom, essentially made an argument against Network Neutrality regulation but without invoking the phrase.
Two Telecom Bills Form a United Front Against Discrimination
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 13, 2008 - 7:12pmHouse Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Internet stalwart Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) have introduced the Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (HR 5994). This bill provides a nice complement to the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2008 (HR 5353), introduced by House Telecom Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS).
Vint Cerf supports municipal broadband networkS, Network Neutrality
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 13, 2008 - 7:08pmMunicipal broadband networks could help boost the availability of high-speed Internet access and even help to ensure Net neutrality in the U.S., said Vint Cerf, vice president and chief Internet evangelist at Google.
Conyers, Lofgren introduce new net neutrality bill
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 9, 2008 - 7:14amHouse Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and Rep Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced the Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act (HR 5994), a bill that would subject broadband providers to antitrust violations if they block or slow Internet traffic.
Wyden to ISPs: "Think twice" about 'Net neutrality... or else
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 8, 2008 - 8:41amLast updated: May 8, 2008 - 7:51pm
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) stepped in front of a group of tech executives in Washington to deliver a surprisingly sharp defense of Network Neutrality. Pledging to use "every ounce of my energy to protect Network Neutrality," Sen Wyden had a message for Internet Service provider (ISPs) who might be pondering new charges for various forms of access: "think twice." If ISPs start down that road, they might soon find that they lose key legal protections including "safe harbors" and tax freedom.
Verizon: We promise to honor the Block C open access rules
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 8, 2008 - 8:36amGoogle has won another back door victory on the Federal Communications Commission's 700 MHz auction. It has extracted a pledge from Verizon that the wireless giant will adhere to the 700 MHz auction C Block's "open platform" provision.
