Comcast accused of unfair VoIP practices
updated 01:20 pm EST, Mon January 19, 2009
Comcast VoIP scandal
Comcast is not treating VoIP traffic as fairly as the law demands, the FCC alleges. In a letter issued by general counsel Matthew Berry and wireless competition bureau chief Dana Shaffer, the FCC notes that whereas Comcast's Digital Voice VoIP service is unimpeded, third-party VoIP technologies remain subject to supposedly "protocol agnostic" bandwidth throttling. The cable provider has an obligation to explain why the disparity was omitted in earlier filings, according to the letter.
The throttling is nominally aimed at controlling high-intensity traffic such as BitTorrent downloads, and scales down a subscriber's bandwidth for 15 minutes if it proves to be the cause of congestion. It was devised in response to original FCC complaints, accusing the company of breaking net neutrality policies by specifically targeting peer-to-peer traffic.
The issue is of particular concern to taxpayers, as while many VoIP offerings qualify as "information services," placing Digital Voice on a separate layer may technically qualify it as telecommunications, subject to different fees and more stringent regulations.
hmmm
01/19, 01:46pm (2 replies) reply
Seems to me their argument will go something like "Our phone services are not part of our internet service, and, as such, have their own bandwidth. This is why our service is Comcastic!"
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Stupid
01/19, 02:47pm reply
Some companies just never learn.
Butch Hauke
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Cox Won
01/19, 03:05pm reply
Have had Packet8 over Cox net or years. Suddenly the old modem and the replacement modem does not work. Changed to Cox telephone today and everything is okay. Been loyal to Packet8 but I cannot fight their battles from them.
starwarrior
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2006
VoIP Bandwidth
01/19, 05:09pm reply
So VoIP is sucking up enough bandwidth to trigger Comcast's bandwidth abuse filters!? What is VoIP's typical kbps rate?
Also, next they should go after the Video on Demand service. It should also be treated as a data connection when it comes to net neutrality. It's no different from iTunes, Netflix, and a few other online video rental services. Otherwise Comcast can cap our bandwidth limits and cut off access to these other services while their own VOD is unaffected.
ender
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 1999
VOD service
01/19, 06:50pm reply
Video on Demand is a completely different technology. It may use the same 'pipe' in the big picture, it has nothing to do with internet connectivity, and, as such, would not be covered.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
there was no space
01/19, 07:25pm reply
on the form. Next time, the gov't needs to add a field titled: "How is your company breaking local, state or federal law? Describe."
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
VoIP...
01/20, 05:58pm reply
Ins't the ONLY thing Comcast should be accused of 'unfair' practices on.
UberFu
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2002