Coalition urges FCC to halt Comcast's data tampering

Just a fortnight after the AP called Comcast out for tampering with some users' ability to swap files over P2P networks, a coalition has formally asked the FCC to stop the operator from interfering with such activity. The petition reportedly asks the Commission to "immediately declare that Comcast is violating the FCC's policy," and it's being supported by the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Media Access Project and professors at the internet practices of the Yale, Harvard and Stanford law schools (among others). Separately, Free Press and Public Knowledge are filing a complaint that asks the FCC to demand a "forfeiture from Comcast of $195,000 per affected subscriber." It's also said that this will be the "first real test of the FCC's stance on Net Neutrality," but there's no telling how long the Commission will wait before acting on the filings.

[Common Core 2 Duo!! @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:29PM]

So wait, did they stop or is this yet to happen?

[Joshua Walters @ Nov 2nd 2007 4:51PM]

This has yet to stop. Comcast is only the beginning to. Verizon was in talks with MSN a while back, and that could be disastrous (can you say DNS forwarding to require our homepage be MSN?).

I got my name on this list weeks ago. In fact, I signed up just days after the list was formed, and I wasnt even directly effected. We need to work to make an example of Comcast to preserve our rights to freedom on the internet.

If nothing is done to Comcast, its only a matter of time till you are subscribing to different plans simply to go to certain sites.

It sounds ridiculous, but it could easily happen.

[Ayle @ Nov 2nd 2007 5:21PM]

charter already do that, you get redirected to yahoo even when your browser is set to look on google when you type something in the address bar...

[Jonny @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:40PM]

We're talking FCC here. We should expect the usual rapid response.

[Wesburl @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:47PM]

Of several years.... : )

[Nicky-Larson @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:47PM]

It was high time so people stood up. I mean what is this country up to? The Industries just think they would try to get clients and then later try to ride over them. It is sad and a big shame. You pay for what you want and then they restrict you from using them. The question is, where is the limit? How long will this keep on. The consumers keep being ran over, over and over again. It's so sad. This is a fearful factor, I tell you, if people don't act,it will get worst. This is modern day slavery, just technology in this case. FCC better act fast. I mean who do these people think they are. And do the workers at comcast know they are affecting the better living of other human beings? And the comcast bosses, do they also get their data flow limited??
fairness for all I say

[anonymous @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:56PM]

well, I need to get into the p2p thing so I can get my $195000.

[apeguero @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:58PM]

You know, as much of a conservative as I am, I highly doubt anything will happen with this current, pro-business adminstration. I'm already looking around in the Newsgroups once more as I don't see this going anywhere anytime soon. Maybe 5 years from now when it hits the Supreme Court's docket, will someone will take this seriously. Until then, let's hope for a better technology.

[blef @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:09PM]

Don't RST me, bro!

[Steve Jobs @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:20PM]

I think we need a coalition to shut comcast down entirely.

[DarkAardvark @ Nov 2nd 2007 4:54PM]

yeah, comcast is too expensive, IMO
kill it plx!

[JB87 @ Nov 2nd 2007 7:37PM]

Except shutting them down would screw people who live in areas that (unfortunately) have no other providers.

As far as "data tampering" though, I use torrents to get opensource applications somewhat often, and I have yet to see any change in up/down speed since this whole thing was announced.. the reports seem a tad alarmist from where I sit.

[Jimmy Onibs @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:23PM]

please rsvp me for "I can temper with net flow of consumers while charging them at the same time" sue fee. I'll take a piece.

[Cole @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:31PM]

I believe that Comcast may be blocking uploads on P2P sites to actually avoid legal troubles from the music and movie industry. Comcast can be held responsible for anything that happens on their networks from what I understand. So I think that if the FCC is going to do something they need to make a regulation that states that ISP's can not be sued for what their users do on their network.

[Jonny @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:48PM]

Do you work for Comcast or something? Comcast is blocking this because they want to control their bandwidth use. ISPs cannot be held responsible for illegal activity on their network, that is rediculous. ISPs can be served a subpoena to get information on users of their network if there is good reason to suspect copyright infringement.

[Dan @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:53PM]

No, they claim to be doing it to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable browsing experience (i.e. no slowdowns). Frankly, I want to be able to use my 8/2 connection for what I want. If I didn't have a need for it, I'd still be using dialup. The point I'm trying to make is that Comcast is going about "delaying" the traffic in entirely the wrong way. Sending out forged RST packets to both ends should be a violation on their end of the user agreement (which by the way, doesn't state that p2p is against their TOS, so why are they tampering with it?)

http://www.comcast.net/terms/subscriber.jsp

[Boynamedsue @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:38PM]

so does comcast cut me a check or what? i'm assuming that since i'm the affected one here i get the money and not some random federal agency who finally decided it was bad.

[Mattazuma @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:38PM]

Did The Pirate Bay file a complaint as well?

[Gennaro @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:04PM]

I have comcast, and using the "work around" methods on the net, I have proven that i get slower connections when downloading without the work arounds in place. Its a matter of simply checking a check box, and i can see the change, it was weird to actually see it happen, and I was like, oh shit, so THIS is why my P2P downloads have been sucking lately.

[Dan @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:17PM]

Interesting transcript, though some info on my end might be incorrect...

http://pastebin.ca/W8caRs5B
Password is the name of your favorite ISP

[Ghen @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:30PM]

How much of the $195,000 do I get?

I'd settle for a big mac.

[Frankenstein Black @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:44PM]

Are you good and pissed yet people? Wanna do something about it? VOTE!
And drag your lazy azz, dopey YouTube video making friends with you.
Its not to late, at least not yet...

[coolbho3000 @ Nov 2nd 2007 4:02PM]

Holy shit. Comcast already gave me a free Nintendo DS, bring on the $195,000.

*Is a P2P user*

[Andrew @ Nov 3rd 2007 8:00AM]

how did you get free stuff?

you didn't storm their office with a hammer did you?

I'm about 5Kbps away....

Seriously, I wont take anything short of Net Neutrality, but it'd be interesting to ponder what I *could* get out of this teehee :-D

[jbodar @ Nov 2nd 2007 4:30PM]

Clearly this is all a ploy by the RIAA/MPAA to get people to admit that they use P2P. OK, maybe not, but it'd be hilarious if it was.

[macona @ Nov 2nd 2007 5:36PM]

Not everything on P2P systems is copyrighted. Most of what I download (~99%) is not. Glad I am with Verizon FIOS.

[jbodar @ Nov 2nd 2007 8:53PM]

@ macona - I am aware of that. Blizzard's Downloader uses BT to get me my patches. I just doubt that people are getting bent out of shape over WoW patches and Linux distros, if you get my drift.

[dpjax @ Nov 2nd 2007 8:01PM]

After the lawyers you won't get $195,000. You'll get a coupon for $1 off a VOD movie that will cut you off after 20 minutes into it.

[John Doe @ Nov 2nd 2007 11:12PM]

Bring it on!

[belial20xx @ Nov 3rd 2007 2:35PM]

We need to add Time Warner Cable to the mix as well. They are using the same practices and worse is they even effect the download speed as well. I have experienced many occasions where my 10mbps gets bearly 4mbps as a max download. As far as the upload I get as low as 2kbps and I am supposed a 1mbps.

I am glad to here this is happen and finally a company may get in touble for doing unlawfull and unfair buisness practices.

[Ben @ Nov 4th 2007 4:13PM]

i know this is a dumb question but where do i sign up? i think verizon does the same thing some of the time... we have the same deal with that box(for those of us that don't have FIOS :()