Comcast blocks some Internet traffic Tests confirm data discrimination by number 2 U.S. service provider 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. 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. read the entire article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21376597/
i remember reading an article earlier this year that ISP were goign to goto a two tier thing of some sort. I didn't understand it too well in all hoonesty but this seems like what it was talking about.
Until UTorrent or someone else comes up with a solution to beat Sandvine, us Comcast users are just sol for the time being.
Remember awhile back I posted something about this. I was trying to use movierush.org and Comcast had blocked the site. Luckily a proxy site solved all of my problems.
Hey -post back here and let us know if you're happy with the quality and service of Dish and Earthlink compared to Comcast.
Is it possible for people to get a class action suit going? Comcast is obviously full of crap, and it doesn't look like they mind lying about it.
Comcast blows ass. A lot of good that cable speed does you if they block the stuff you need it most for.
Definitely will. I'm doubtful about Earthlink, since it piggybacks Comcast...but on the other hand, it's a different IP range, so who knows. I got an awesome deal on Dish. Check out www.godish.com. It's a Houston-based seller of Dish. VERY friendly on the phone. Installation today.
Nice. I've got a hammer. Let's hope this becomes a new fad. I just got Comcast internet and phone service. They've been here 5 times in 2 weeks. 3 times for the phone and twice for the internet. They suck. If I didn't work from home, I probably would have gone hammer time on their incompetent asses too. They sent 3 people to set up phone service. Which worked for 2 days. Then, they sent someone to repair the problem 3 days later. He couldn't figure it out, so they sent someone the next day. Nice work douche bags. Furthermore, I figured out the internet problem because the "technician" couldn't figure out on their 2nd internet visit. One of their moronic phone representatives told me that I needed to contact Microsoft to have my IP stack rebuilt even though I could get an IP address from all of my routers, but their modem wasn't getting an IP address from them. Yea, it must be my computer. One of their other phone Customer "service" represtentatives told me I needed to call Dell. I forgot what his reasoning was, but it was equally ridiculous. I went with Direct TV for my television needs so I could get the NFL Sunday ticket. They haven't been much better. 2 visits, one of about 7 hours and one of about 3 hours. 2 guys each time. Plus one one issue that they were able to correct from the office later and everything seems to be working okay. If these big companies spent 1/4 as much money training their employees, as they did on advertising, they would make a hell of a lot more money. I'm sure that between Comcast and Direct TV, they've probably spent close to $1000 on labor since I've been a customer.
