And there was I laboring under the false impression that Comcast was just a bit useless. I’d almost got used to the idea of losing service for a good twelve hours once a fortnight. And I’d also come to terms with one or two of my calls (yes, I got the bundle) turning into three-way conference affairs for no apparent reason.
It’s not so much Comcast’s bizarre standards of service that get me so much as the lack of competition.
But, it’s now come to light that Comcast aren’t only a bit useless but they’re also throttling bandwidth like a pair of old underpants throttles the blood flow to your important bits.
Thankfully, there’s a new group of internet vigilantes wearing their underpants on the outside of their trousers to safeguard us all against constipated speeds – the Network Neutrality Squad.
Now, some high-profile industry players including Web evangelist Vinton Cerf and Slashdot’s Keith Dawson have formed a new group, the Network Neutrality Squad, to ferret out other examples of ISPs blocking traffic.
“The project’s focus includes detection, analysis, and incident reporting of any anticompetitive, discriminatory, or other restrictive actions on the part of Internet Service Providers,” reads a statement on the new organization’s Web site, nnsquad.org.
Meanwhile, advocates including Free Press and the Consumers Union last week filed a complaint with the FCC seeking an injunction against Comcast and damages for the company’s move to interfere with traffic. “If the FCC does not immediately condemn such actions, Comcast will continue to block or filter revolutionary, socially valuable applications and content, and other broadband service providers may follow suit,” the complaint states.
Comcast’s position is that it’s just managing the flow of traffic. “We engage in reasonable network management to provide all of our customers with a good Internet experience, and we do so consistently with FCC policy,” executive vice president David L. Cohen said in a statement.
Not in my apartment you don’t, David. I’m supposed to get something like a 16mb peak/spike – you know, when I need it the most. But, as we all know, that peak comes at the very beginning until it starts to download through molasses. And don’t get me going on the extravagant downtimes in service I experience more often than is good for any man. And also don’t get me going on the weird third world wiring that has taken place in order for me to receive my third world service.
Remember – online innovation comes about better with decent internet infrastructure.
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