FTC Endorses Network Neutrality

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Art Brodsky <abrodsky () publicknowledge org>
Date: December 30, 2005 7:48:43 PM EST
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: FTC Endorses Network Neutrality

Dave,

I was interested in the FTC and net neutrality, so I set out to track  
down this story. Following the links, it turns out the original story  
was about the FCC, and the FTC mysteriously, perhaps erroneously,  
appears later on. Also, I saw no mention of the policy on the FTC web  
site, and so called the FTC press office. The press officer on duty  
had been made aware of the story, but knew nothing about an agency  
action on net neutrality.

rgds,

Art


Seth Johnson wrote:

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [IP] FTC States That ISPs Should Not Block Access
> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 10:30:10 -0500
> From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
> To: ip () v2 listbox com
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Richard Forno <rforno () infowarrior org>
> Date: December 30, 2005 10:12:44 AM EST
> To: Blaster <rforno () infowarrior org>
> Cc: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
> Subject: FTC States That ISPs Should Not Block Access
>
> FTC States That ISPs Should Not Block Access
> http://www.freepress.net/news/13101
> From Ars Technica, December 28, 2005
> By Jeremy Reimer
>
> The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a statement in
> principle that, in theory, should promote the idea of “network
> neutrality,” the idea that Internet network operators should not
> prioritize or block network data based on content. The FTC stated
> that ISPs should not block access to any lawful content,
> services, or applications on the Internet.
>
> The statement is the first ray of hope for saving network
> neutrality, which has taken a beating recently. ISPs in some
> countries have been blocking VoIP data as “inappropriate content”
> while others have announced or implemented plans for offering
> “premium access” services that favor the ISP’s own data while
> crippling the competition’s.
>
> However, there is another angle that the network providers may
> use to chip away at network neutrality. It involves invoking the
> modern age’s biggest bugaboo: security. The concept is to
> restrict consumer’s access to parts of the Internet based on
> their computer software and hardware configuration. In the guise
> of protecting users from malware, certain software packages may
> be required to connect to parts of the Internet. The presence of
> software that wasn’t on the whitelist, which would presumably
> include malware (although not the infamous Sony rootkit, as it
> would probably be flagged safe as coming from a “trusted
> source”), would deny the user access. This would also encourage
> the movement to a “two-tier” Internet, where customers would pay
> for “premium” access to certain content (for example, an ISP’s
> VoIP service).
>
> Besides the FTC, another major voice coming out in favor of
> network neutrality these days is none other than Microsoft.
> According to Chief Privacy Officer Peter Cullen, Microsoft is
> against ISPs doing anything that would restrict customers’ choice
> of software. Certainly the software giant would not like to find
> its own software on “quarantined lists.” Unlike the telcos and
> cable companies, Microsoft does not own the channel of
> distribution for its products. It relies on the Internet for
> distributing and updating much of its new web-centric software
> these days. And Microsoft has its own VoIP plans as well as new
> video content offerings over Windows Media Center Edition. Is the
> company planning on becoming a champion of network neutrality
> purely for its own interest, for those of consumers, or both?
>
> This article is from Ars Technica. If you found it informative
> and valuable, we strongly encourage you to visit their website
> and register an account to view all their articles on the web.
> Support quality journalism.
>
>
> -------------------------------------
>
> Archives at:
> http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/

--
Art Brodsky Communications Director Public Knowledge 202-518-0020 (o)  
301-908-7715 (c)




-------------------------------------
You are subscribed as lists-ip () insecure org
To manage your subscription, go to
 http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip

Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/