NetNeutrality
Latest
FCC's net neutrality inbox is already stuffed with 647k messages, get yours in by Tuesday
The FCC's controversial plans for a new version of net neutrality are still open for public comment for a few more days, and Chairman Tom Wheeler -- continuing to fight charges that he may be a dingo -- says it's already received over 647,000 comments so far. The 60 day period for public comment runs out on the 15th though, so if you want your voice to be heard then about fast lanes, Title II or anything else, then now is the time. The internet may not have crashed the FCC's website -- hackers did that -- but it can still have an effect on the way we connect in the future. Read the FCC's proposal here, and send your comments in via openinternet@fcc.gov. [Image credit: Karen Bleier via Getty Images]
The man who defined net neutrality is running for office in New York
Many will tell you to run for office if you really want to change the political status quo. Tim Wu, the professor who defined the term "net neutrality," has clearly taken that advice to heart -- he's now running for lieutenant governor in New York state. As he explains to the Washington Post, he sees this as a chance for state governments to get more of a say in both net neutrality issues and telecom mergers. People aren't happy with "concentration in the media industries and tech industry into political strength," Wu says.
The FCC is looking into Netflix's issues with Comcast and Verizon
Netflix has been loudly agitating over the last few months about deals it says ISPs like Comcast and Verizon have forced it into for adequate service, and now the FCC is looking into them. While there's no action yet, FCC Commisioner Tom Wheeler has obtained the confidential terms of the peering agreements between Netflix and the two ISPs, and says FCC staff is asking for others. At issue? Whether consumers are getting what they're paying for, from ISPs and Netflix. Meanwhile, Dan Rayburn points out that Sandvine recently posted tests where an iPad and Apple TV on the same Comcast connection at the same time got different quality, because Netflix delivered service to the two devices over different connections. As of late, accusations have flown back and forth over who is to blame for the slow down (the image above is from Reed Hasting's blog post arguing for "strong" net neutrality that would require free connections), and Wheeler says he wants to bring some transparency to the deals.
Sorry, guys, you didn't actually crash the FCC website (update: FCC responds)
The only thing more charming than John Oliver's 13-minute net neutrality explainer? The idea that we, his viewers, managed to crash part of the FCC website because we submitted too many comments about its proposed net neutrality regulations. In fact, though, while Oliver did indeed send fans to FCC's comments page, and though the site did indeed collapse soon after, it appears the comedian and his band of trolls aren't to blame. In a statement to Vice, the Federal Communications Commission confirmed that it was actually hackers who took down the site, using a database denial-of-service attack. In layman's terms, that means they were able to get at the infrastructure of the site -- not surprising, considering the FCC's comment system is 17 years old (yikes). The irony, of course, is that the attack temporarily made it impossible for anyone to leave a comment. Fortunately, the problem seems to be fixed, so head here if you didn't get your say in the first time around -- the site might be old and creaky, but it can probably handle a few of you complaining at once. Update: An FCC spokesperson contacted us to say its statement to Vice about the recent site crash was misconstrued. The commission says it has no evidence of a malicious attack; if anything, a high volume of traffic caused the collapse (precisely because of the aging website infrastructure we mention in our story). Now, does that mean John Oliver incited a crash after all? The FCC says it has no way of proving that, but we suspect many of you are convinced anyway. Update #2: Vice says it confirmed with a "high-level FCC source" that the FCC site suffered a database denial-of-service attack. The publication stands by its story.
Congratulations, internet: you collapsed part of the FCC website with comments
Apparently Last Week Tonight host John Oliver's call to arms was answered, as the United States government's website for Federal Communications Commission complaints is experiencing some issues. Specifically, the page where you can submit comments regarding proposed internet provider regulation is having issues. The FCC's Twitter account says the issues are due to, "heavy traffic." And why might that page be experiencing especially high traffic volume? It could be that, after reading our net neutrality explainer, the entire internet decided to rise up and push back on the handful of major corporations which control the pipes we all use. But, more likely, it's a reaction to comedian-turned-host John Oliver's hilarious and smart piece this past weekend on the subject. See it yourself after the break -- and then tell the FCC what you think about keeping the internet open...if you can get to the site, that is. Keep trying!
Google Fiber won't charge content providers for quicker access
Irked that your internet provider is strong-arming media services into connection deals just to guarantee the quality you were expecting all along? You won't have to worry about that happening with Google Fiber. The gigabit-grade ISP has declared that it isn't charging companies for peering agreements, fast lanes or anything else that gives content hosts and delivery networks better performance than they would otherwise get. In fact, companies like Netflix already colocate in Google's spaces -- there won't be any hitches in that 4K House of Cards stream if you're using Fiber.
What you need to know about net neutrality
The internet! It's a truly wonderful place, a reflection of humanity that encompasses the breadth of our achievements and failures as a species. It's at the center of modern life in the United States: from birth/early life education for parents to educational tools for kids, interacting with networks of friends and family, the entire college experience, managing finances into adulthood and building a business. It is ubiquitous. And the internet, as we know it, is open. The concept of "net neutrality" is simple: to keep the internet open. Update (2/27): And now, so many months later, the FCC has officially passed new rules to protect the open internet (aka net neutrality). Yay! So what does that mean exactly? Check after the break for some new details.
Shocker: The telcos are not pleased about today's net neutrality vote
Earlier today, the FCC voted in a 3-2 split to move ahead with plans for fresh net neutrality rules. All told, this new set of proposed regulations differs somewhat from the commission's first proposal, which was shot down by a federal court earlier this year. In brief, the FCC wants to impose a "no blocking" rule, and is calling for a "fast and robust" performance baseline. Meaning, even if a company like Comcast wanted to charge Netflix for faster service, it would still have to deliver adequate speeds even for websites that weren't in the fast lane. Speaking of, these new rules do indeed allow for so-called fast lanes, though again, it's unclear how slow the "slow lane" will be. Finally, FCC chairman Tom Wheeler is also calling for an ombudsman to investigate complaints of abuse on the part of ISPs. As you can imagine, internet service providers aren't happy about that last one. Or any of it, really.
FCC votes in favor of new Net Neutrality rules, leaves room for 'fast lanes'
Five months ago, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals came down hard and essentially neutered 2010's Open Internet Order. Today, the FCC voted -- in a split decision along party lines -- to try again with a proposal for new Net Neutrality rules. Nothing's set in stone yet (the final vote on the matter will take place later this year) and that's a good thing: It sounds like the FCC could use as much input as it can get.
Comcast may roll out data caps for all customers within five years
So much for Comcast's proposed merger with Time Warner Cable being good for your internet service. The cable giant's David Cohen tells investors that he expects "usage-based billing" (that is, data caps with overage fees) to reach all Comcast customers within five years. While he's not saying exactly when or how this would expand beyond the cap system's limited existing footprint, the company would gradually increase caps as demand goes up to make sure that the "vast majority" of users don't bump into it. Cohen doesn't anticipate having complex plans that force people to worry about their usage, but he warns that it's hard to make long-term predictions. "Five years ago I don't know that I would have heard of something called an iPad," he says.
Care about an open internet? Tell the US government on Twitter today
Rumors that the FCC would let ISPs like Comcast or Verizon give an internet "fast lane" to well-heeled customers has become a debacle, with Google, Yahoo and a hundred other companies denouncing the idea. The FCC and chairman Tom Wheeler have been in damage control mode ever since, and now want to hear what you think about net neutrality. Starting at 2pm ET today, FCC Senior Counsel Gigi B. Sohn will take your questions over Twitter, submitted using the #FCCNetNeutrality hashtag. Then, you'll just need to search Twitter using that same hashtag to follow the resulting dialogue. For instance, we're curious to find out how it could allow such fast lanes without slowing down everybody else, something they've sworn not to do. And that's just the tip of the iceberg -- given the sudden swarm of interest in the subject, it should make for a fascinating hour if you can spare it.
FCC may revise the new net neutrality rules, but it's unlikely to satisfy critics
After pushback from a number of internet companies and even calls from within the FCC to delay a vote on the proposed new net neutrality standards, an FCC official has confirmed Tom Wheeler is making some changes. Detailed in a report by the Wall Street Journal, the (heavily criticized) general approach with the ability to sell faster delivery for some web content will be the same, but according to an unnamed official, will include language to make sure the FCC would have to make sure any deal doesn't put nonpaying companies at an unfair disadvantage. That will probably not meet the bar sought by most net neutrality advocates, and the updated rules are also said to stop short of calling for the reclassification of internet providers as common carriers under Title II.
FCC's new net neutrality rules opposed by 100+ internet companies (update: vote still on schedule)
Despite FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's insistence that he is on the side of an open internet, the controversy over proposed net neutrality rules continues to expand. Resistance to the new rules is now coming from voices within the FCC and major internet companies including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Netflix, Yahoo and more. The plan was for the five commissioners to vote on their approval next Thursday, but today one of them, Jessica Rosenworcel, called to push back that vote by a month (update: an FCC spokesman says the vote will go forward as scheduled). Citing "real concerns" with Wheeler's proposal and a need for time to consider the "torrent of public response" received, she wants the delay so public conversation can continue. That would mean putting the agency's legal staff out front to explain the measures and answer questions in ways that are accessible to the public, instead of starting a Sunshine Period that would end the ability to accept public comment.
Mozilla asks the FCC to rethink net neutrality with content providers in mind
Like some, Mozilla is concerned that the FCC's second take on net neutrality won't be enough to guarantee that internet service providers (ISPs) treat all content fairly. To that end, the Firefox developer has just given the FCC a solution of its own: regulate the relationship between ISPs and "remote delivery services" like Dropbox and Netflix. If these content hosts were subject to the same common carrier rules as phone lines, Mozilla argues, ISPs wouldn't be allowed to discriminate against incoming services by blocking them or slowing them down.
An 'internet middleman' calls out six ISPs for letting connections slow down
This week's update on the battle between Netflix, internet service providers (ISPs) and the companies that often carry internet traffic between them comes from the third group. Level 3 VP Mark Taylor's "Observations of an Internet Middleman" shows what it looks like from his end of the network cable while being squeezed out by ISPs seeking the direct connection deals Netflix has signed with Comcast and Verizon. Without naming the ISPs in question -- Level 3 waged a war with Comcast over Netflix traffic in 2010 before cutting a direct connection deal of its own last year -- he points out that among the company's many connected network peers, only a dozen are suffering congestion. While half of those are in the process of being upgraded, the other six are regularly overloaded, dropping packets and delaying traffic.
FCC chairman to cable companies: forcing some net traffic into a slow lane will not be permitted
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's PR push to explain his proposed new meaning of net neutrality continued today at The Cable Show 2014. Speaking directly to executives of the cable broadband industry, Wheeler claimed anyone opposing net neutrality and an open internet would need to "put away the party hats," and once again raised the threat of tighter Title II regulation if any internet providers tried to divide internet access between "haves and have-nots." The issue detractors however, is that the threat isn't being exercised already, and critics are doubtful that it ever will be. Based on his speech (you can read it in full after the break), he believes the new rules will let the FCC block any attempts that would force certain traffic into a congested slow lane, while "others with special privileges can have superior service." There even seems to be a hint at extending net neutrality in the ways Netflix's Reed Hastings has suggested, mentioning that customers expect quality access at all points of the internet, and if that pathway is interfered with then it's in violation of the Open Internet rules. Consumer group Public Knowledge has issued a response, saying that while it's "pleased to see the Chairman recognize Title II as a legitimate option...It's hard to understand how the FCC's proposal, as reported, can allow avenues for paid prioritization and yet still serve as a pillar for net neutrality." Like everyone else, for now they're waiting until the FCC's meeting May 15th to read over the proposal and formally comment.
FCC Chairman Wheeler talks tough on defending net neutrality, broadband competition and paid peering deals
Word of a new FCC proposal for net neutrality that could allow ISPs to discriminate between traffic on a "commercially reasonable" basis caused an uproar last week, and now Chairman Tom Wheeler has more to say about it. In a new blog post titled "Finding the Best Path Forward to Protect the Open Internet" he addresses many of the concerns raised about the rules some have suggested would effectively kill the concept of net neutrality, as well as other problems like a lack of competition between broadband providers and the interconnect deals Netflix has complained about reaching with ISPs like Comcast and Verizon. Wheeler called preserving the Open Internet "a priority" for the FCC, and claims "all options" are on the table -- including reclassifying internet providers so they can be regulated like phone companies or other utilities, a measure encouraged by consumer groups like Public Knowledge and Free Press. According to the chairman, the current proposal that's on the table for commentary exists to get something enforceable in place soon. Other choices, in his view, mean ignoring the court's previous ruling on net neutrality, or going in a whole new direction that could be tied up in courts for years. Saying "I won't hesitate to use Title II" (reclassification), if ISPs abuse the new rules and jeopardize the next Google or Amazon (Netflix was not mentioned) may put some more meat behind them. He claims that if anyone attempts to degrade the service of many for the benefit of few, the FCC will do everything it can to stop it. Now, we wait and see if that will mollify critics or satisfy Congress when he goes in front of the House Commerce Subcommittee on Communications on May 20th. Other issues the FCC is dealing with include those interconnection arrangements Netflix's Reed Hastings is so concerned about, and transparency requirements the chairman says will uncover any bad practices by ISPs like the ones Comcast and Verizon have been accused of. [Image Credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Netflix pays to play with Verizon, too
After Netflix reached an agreement with Comcast for direct access to its network, several other ISPs lined up with their hands out, and now there's another deal with Verizon. First reported by analyst Walter Piecyk based on a meeting with Verizon's CEO Lowell C McAdam, Netflix's Joris Evers has confirmed the deal with a statement: "We have reached an interconnect arrangement with Verizon that we hope will improve performance for our joint customers over the coming months." There aren't many details to go on, but it appears to be another arrangement for paid peering between their networks, as McAdam told Piecyk the deal was "like Comcast's." Reed Hastings has argued that strong net neutrality would let it connect to ISPs for free, but so far the (already controversial) rules the FCC is proposing don't apply here.
FCC claims it hasn't abandoned net neutrality at all, opens a new inbox for comments
Recent news that the FCC is drafting new net neutrality rules caused an uproar once it came out that they could let ISPs give certain traffic special access. That goes against the principles conventionally ascribed to net neutrality, which so far have required ISPs to treat any traffic on their networks the same. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler called those claims "flat out wrong" in a short statement, and in a blog post titled "Setting the Record Straight on the FCC's Open Internet Rules" says his proposal does not abandon the FCC's earlier policies. According to the chairman, the proposed draft is simply following the roadmap established by the court when the previous net neutrality standards were struck down and "would establish that behavior harmful to consumers or competition by limiting the openness of the Internet will not be permitted." So, should you be worried about the new rules?
Netflix gets specific about its battle with Comcast and opposition to the TWC merger
In the months since announcing a "mutually beneficial" interconnection agreement, Netflix and Comcast have seen eye to eye on very little. Throw in Comcast's attempt to swallow up Time Warner Cable and grow even larger, and you have a battleground for the two to air their disagreements. Netflix put its opposition to the merger in writing with its most recent earnings report earlier this week, spurring a response from Comcast, and now a pair of more detailed rebuttals from the streaming company (update: and yet another response from Comcast, this time claiming that Netflix itself caused the slowdowns). One is in a blog post by Vice President of Content Delivery Ken Florance, and another is a letter (PDF) by Vice President of Global Public Policy Christopher Libertelli in response to questions from Senator Al Franken. Both argue that Comcast's stance that it deserves payment is flawed because, among other reasons Netflix is still the one that must transmit its data to Comcast's network, where it stops without passing anywhere else.
