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Other => General Topics => Topic started by: .: Mac :. on February 14, 2008, 03:49:43 AM

Title: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on February 14, 2008, 03:49:43 AM
Macworld is doing an excellent series of articles on Net Neutrality(keeping the internet free from filtering and blocking).

Its a three part series Ive included links to the first two below and will post the last part when they post it. They are focused toward the Mac a little at times but they are a good read and they still apply to Linux and Windows as well.

Part one talks about ISP filtering:
http://www.macworld.com/article/132075/2008/02/netneutrality1.html

Part Two talks about ways to avoid filtering/blocking:
http://www.macworld.com/article/132101/2008/02/netneutrality2.html

On a related note My ISP, Charter, called me about a spike in my bandwidth usage over the last month ( I just love the new iTunes movie rentals :D )  warning that if it continued any traffic over a set bandwidth limit would  be throttled. I told them the second I noticed any change in my service I would be switching ISPs.

Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on February 14, 2008, 03:53:18 AM
FYI Part three will be on Finding a new ISP and will be posted tomorrow. Ill post the link here as son as I see it.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: bob3160 on February 14, 2008, 03:59:01 AM
Thanks Kyle.
Extremely interesting.  :)
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: Marc57 on February 14, 2008, 04:43:19 AM
Thanks Mac, as bob said, Very interesting
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on February 15, 2008, 03:06:29 AM
And the final part on finding an Honest ISP:
http://www.macworld.com/article/132122/2008/02/netneutrality3.html
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: bob3160 on February 15, 2008, 02:52:34 PM
Despite all the negative reports I see regarding Comcast,
I really can't complain about the following results.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/bob3160/ShellFTP/SpeedTest02.png)

For all of you who utilize MySharedFiles (http://home.comcast.net/~mysharedfiles/), I wish that the upload speed was faster but it's still nothing to complain about.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on February 15, 2008, 05:57:48 PM
Despite all the negative reports I see regarding Comcast,
I really can't complain about the following results.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/bob3160/ShellFTP/SpeedTest02.png)

For all of you who utilize MySharedFiles (http://home.comcast.net/~mysharedfiles/), I wish that the upload speed was faster but it's still nothing to complain about.


Bob from what I hear it depends on where you live. The oversubscribe more in the big cities and are doing most of the filtering on those overloaded networks. If you live away from the city your network most likely is not as crowded and therefore not being filtered as much
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: TedNelly on February 16, 2008, 03:21:59 AM
Cheers .: Mac :. good and interesting read
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: bob3160 on February 16, 2008, 05:40:10 AM
Quote
If you live away from the city your network most likely is not as crowded and therefore not being filtered as much

As they would say around here, "What's a city?"    ;D
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on February 19, 2008, 03:58:32 AM
The saga continues. here is another article:

http://www.macworld.com/article/132144/2008/02/broadband.html


Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on February 19, 2008, 05:24:01 PM
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/021908-comcast-p2p-critics.html
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: polonus on February 19, 2008, 08:50:53 PM
Hi .:Mac:.,

The cat and mouse game goes on, Bit Torrent users, the group that is involved here, now have found a way out with developers launching "Comcast Busting Encryption"to bypass The BitTorrent Interfering techniques. Some applaud the French now that like to ban these users all together:
http://torrentfreak.com/bittorrent-devs-introduce-comcast-busting-encryption-080215/

polonus
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on February 26, 2008, 01:55:20 PM
http://www.macworld.com/article/132248/2008/02/netneutrality.html
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on April 04, 2008, 06:58:53 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080404/ap_on_hi_te/isp_fine_print;_ylt=AjOC9kGzPym6LduBi9aZH0Nk24cA
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: lee16 on April 05, 2008, 01:03:43 PM
Thank you for the links Mac <3

--lee
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on April 17, 2008, 11:26:01 PM
Comcast creating a so called Bill of Rights:
http://www.macworld.com/article/133049/2008/04/comcast.html

Also ISPs modifying Web pages: http://www.macworld.com/article/133025/2008/04/isptraffic.html
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on April 23, 2008, 02:01:16 PM
http://www.macworld.com/article/133112/2008/04/comcast_p2p.html
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on May 10, 2008, 01:53:23 AM
New Net Neutrality bill introduced into Congress:

Quote
“The bill squarely addresses the issue of the enormous market power of the telephone and cable companies as the providers of 98 percent of the broadband service in the country,” said Gigi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge. “The bill restores the principle of nondiscrimination that allowed the Internet to flourish in the dial-up era, making certain that the same freedom and innovation will flourish in the broadband era without burdensome regulation.”

Full Article is here:
http://www.macworld.com/article/133377/2008/05/netneutralitybill.html
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on July 28, 2008, 09:31:19 PM
Groups cheer reports of FCC acting against Comcast.
http://www.macworld.com/article/134716/2008/07/comcast.html


While Im all for Throttling Pirated content, the problem with allowing ISPs to do so is if we allow them to manage anything there will always be that question of what are the limits of what they are allowed to mess with. Net neutrality Needs to be all or Nothing and wee need it badly or we will be seeing a very dim future for the internet.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: bob3160 on July 29, 2008, 12:33:02 AM
The act of copying copyrighted material is illegal. The actions taken by Comcast is equally illegal.
I guess Comcast still has to learn that 2 wrongs don't make 1 right.  :)
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: polonus on July 29, 2008, 12:54:53 AM
Hi bob3160,

I think that it is mighty important that the general public prevents the so-called "Old Media" to take over the Internet, according to their so-called "need" or should I rather say "greed". They try to slowly maneuver this in under the radar through things like Net Neutrality, in order to "weed" the evil sides/sites out of the Internet, pay per click Internet, Internet 2 for the happy few, etc. etc. They already worked towards some success in the field of making P2P almost look as bad as smoking tobacco, and declaring it illegal where the Old Media could lobby enough to bring the legislation in. In my country only uploading copyrighted material is illegal, sharing is not, but one judge had another view on this in his jurisprudence, following EEC law which is more on the corporations' side.
France for instance is much stricter and the U.K. goes now for the three strikes out option(3 x warning by your local ISP and you loose your account if you are find to download illegal stuff).
This is a good article: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080725-hammer-drops-at-last-fcc-opposes-comcast-p2p-throttling.html

polonus
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on July 29, 2008, 03:41:15 AM
The act of copying copyrighted material is illegal. The actions taken by Comcast is equally illegal.
I guess Comcast still has to learn that 2 wrongs don't make 1 right.  :)
Quite right Bob.
Hi bob3160,

I think that it is mighty important that the general public prevents the so-called "Old Media" to take over the Internet, according to their so-called "need" or should I rather say "greed". They try to slowly maneuver this in under the radar through things like Net Neutrality, in order to "weed" the evil sides/sites out of the Internet, pay per click Internet, Internet 2 for the happy few, etc. etc. They already worked towards some success in the field of making P2P almost look as bad as smoking tobacco, and declaring it illegal where the Old Media could lobby enough to bring the legislation in. In my country only uploading copyrighted material is illegal, sharing is not, but one judge had another view on this in his jurisprudence, following EEC law which is more on the corporations' side.
France for instance is much stricter and the U.K. goes now for the three strikes out option(3 x warning by your local ISP and you loose your account if you are find to download illegal stuff).
This is a good article: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080725-hammer-drops-at-last-fcc-opposes-comcast-p2p-throttling.html

polonus

Well the US Net Neutrality Laws are designed to keep corporations like comcast from out of the mix, to make then just a provider and nothing more. But the laws are facing a lot of resistance by, you guessed it, ISPs and have yet to be passed by congress.

Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on August 02, 2008, 02:28:06 AM
And finally the FCC has ruled against Comcast  :)

http://www.macworld.com/article/134805/2008/08/comcast.html
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: rdmaloyjr on August 13, 2008, 03:17:15 AM
FCC Commissioner: Return of Fairness Doctrine Could Control Web Content
McDowell warns reinstated powers could play in net neutrality debate, lead to government requiring balance on Web sites.
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080812160747.aspx
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: Jtaylor83 on August 13, 2008, 06:13:14 AM
Go FCC!!!  ;D
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on September 05, 2008, 01:32:22 PM
Comcast Starting to Cap Bandwith (http://www.macworld.com/article/135293/2008/08/comcast.html)
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: polonus on September 05, 2008, 11:51:16 PM
Hi .:Mac:.,

Yes I have read about that too, but the biggest threat that ISP's pose is endangering your privacy.
With the new tap rules they can also sell all your clickstream and profile to commercial third parties, and they are willing to pay for this data, so money speaks. So every ISP, the smaller firms also, will be in this eventually - they will spy on you for gain.
That is why some say that the ISP should also be checked on their turn from a higher authority, but because big commerce is the highest authority there is these days  this cannot be easily be done,

polonus
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: bob3160 on September 06, 2008, 01:16:02 AM
Comcast Starting to Cap Bandwith (http://www.macworld.com/article/135293/2008/08/comcast.html)
250 Gig to start 2.5 Gig next ???
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on September 06, 2008, 04:36:23 PM
Hi .:Mac:.,

Yes I have read about that too, but the biggest threat that ISP's pose is endangering your privacy.
With the new tap rules they can also sell all your clickstream and profile to commercial third parties, and they are willing to pay for this data, so money speaks. So every ISP, the smaller firms also, will be in this eventually - they will spy on you for gain.
That is why some say that the ISP should also be checked on their turn from a higher authority, but because big commerce is the highest authority there is these days  this cannot be easily be done,

polonus

Absolutely right, they should all be watched, but unfortunately our government has been hesitant to do anything so far.

Comcast Starting to Cap Bandwith (http://www.macworld.com/article/135293/2008/08/comcast.html)
250 Gig to start 2.5 Gig next ???

Right bob, comcast may start with a 250GB limit but there is no guarantee they will keep it that high, or that other ISP will give caps that high.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: DavidR on September 06, 2008, 05:08:45 PM
In the UK before any mention of net neutrality most ISPs have had caps, some as low as 3GB a month, 5GB and BT (British Telecom) the main broadband provider or supplier (its their telephone network) has just updated its cap to 10GB, then you have to pay a higher monthly charge.

There are some that state unlimited in their marketing blurb, but the then come up firt a fair use clause in their T&C which effectively limits the 'unlimited' and they are the ones who decide what is fair use.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: bob3160 on September 06, 2008, 05:47:24 PM
MySharedFiles (http://mysharedfiles.no-ip.org/) alone already uses a chunk of that 250 Gig.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: bob3160 on September 16, 2008, 04:24:19 PM
I've just received an email from Comcast advising me of the following:

http://www.comcast.net/terms/network/amendment/ (http://www.comcast.net/terms/network/amendment/)

I guess that means that the regulatory agencies aren't going to step in
and curtail Comcast's restrictions on their customers.

If that's the case, how long will it take till all the major ISP's do the same and,
how long will it be till they lower the allowed bandwidth to fall below an acceptable limit ???

(IMHO) If this is allowed to go forward unchallenged, it will eventually affect all of us in a negative way.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on September 16, 2008, 04:48:22 PM
I've just received an email from Comcast advising me of the following:

http://www.comcast.net/terms/network/amendment/ (http://www.comcast.net/terms/network/amendment/)

I guess that means that the regulatory agencies aren't going to step in
and curtail Comcast's restrictions on their customers.

If that's the case, how long will it take till all the major ISP's do the same and,
how long will it be till they lower the allowed bandwidth to fall below an acceptable limit ???

(IMHO) If this is allowed to go forward unchallenged, it will eventually affect all of us in a negative way.
You are absolutely right, it will not be long before all major ISPs start this. Im just wondering what kind of cap Charter will start out with.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: DavidR on September 16, 2008, 05:37:44 PM
Looks like you are in for a small taste of what we already get in the UK, I say small as when you compare 10GB monthly download limit for British Telecom broadband users (which is higher than many ISPs) 250GB sounds very generous.

Those UK ISP that still advertise unlimited downloads also have a get out of jail card in their supposed 'Acceptable Use Policy' and they are the ones determining what is acceptable.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on November 05, 2008, 07:42:37 PM
If you though Comcast was reasonable with their 250GB limit your right. They are nothing compared to AT&T which is considering a cap as low as 20GB

http://www.macworld.com/article/136566/2008/11/att_bandwidth.html


The US Government has got to pass those Net Neutrality laws quickly before more ISPs join in on this.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on November 14, 2008, 07:13:11 PM
Congress to push for net neutrality legislation (http://www.macworld.com/article/136798/2008/11/netneutrality.html)


Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on January 20, 2009, 09:50:34 PM
FCC Questions Comcast's treatment of competing VoIP   (http://www.macworld.com/article/138311/2009/01/comcast/article.html?lsrc=mwnws)

Comcast just will not learn.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: polonus on January 21, 2009, 07:27:07 PM
Hi forum folks,

Another threat here will be supplying or denying content according to geo-location.
http://www.nartv.org/2004/11/03/geolocation-filtering/
And a lot of innocent users are not even aware what is going on,
http://www.notanotherconspiracy.com/2009/01/internet-censorship-geolocation.html

polonus
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on January 29, 2009, 08:49:03 PM
Hey, Cox: Stop Playing God With the Internet (http://www.macworld.com/article/138507/2009/01/cox.html)

I understand that they can't have people downloading 1TB each month. But my view is that if you are selling 5, 10, 15Mbps service you should be able to provide that amount of service. Dont sell 10Mbps service when you can only provide 1.5Mbps, period. No throttling, no bandwidth caps, just sell only what you can actually provide. That way when people actually USE their connection you dont have to throttle the connection because you have oversubscribed the network by 5,000 people.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: polonus on January 29, 2009, 09:06:56 PM
Hi .:Mac:.,

Google is given you the tools (three at the moment) to check on what your broadband company is doing?
The tools will give you an insight in what sense the broadband company is tinkering with your connection,
what traffic they are clamping on or blocking to an extent. And why they are not concerned with a bit of added user-anger?

Read about it here:
http://techdirt.com/articles/20090128/1138383558.shtml

Go here for the tools: http://www.measurementlab.net/
Test and tell us how bad the situation is for you personally...

polonus
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on January 29, 2009, 11:31:57 PM
Hi .:Mac:.,

Google is given you the tools (three at the moment) to check on what your broadband company is doing?
The tools will give you an insight in what sense the broadband company is tinkering with your connection,
what traffic they are clamping on or blocking to an extent. And why they are not concerned with a bit of added user-anger?

Read about it here:
http://techdirt.com/articles/20090128/1138383558.shtml

Go here for the tools: http://www.measurementlab.net/
Test and tell us how bad the situation is for you personally...

polonus
Charter does not throttle, cap or degrade my connection is any way, they are one of the few good ISPs (thats why I have their service). The problem is that Charter may not be around much longer as its widely believed they will be filing for bankruptcy soon: http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090128/ap_on_hi_te/charter_paul_allen


Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: polonus on January 30, 2009, 10:49:30 PM
Hi .:Mac:.,

Let us go back to basics, and repeat a little history. Along with the recent interim appointment of Michael Copps as interim FCC chairman, this is really good news for Internet users. Remember the commercial Internet was created by the Federal Government with the High Speed Computing and Communications Act of 1991. The commercial Internet was owned and operated by the Federal Government under the auspices of the National Science Foundation. In 1993 the NSF turned over the Internet to the telcos with the proviso that it be operated for the common good. If the telcos are reneging on this deal, then the time is right for the US Govt to take back control of the Internet and operate it as a public utility for the common good,

polonus
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: YoKenny on January 31, 2009, 12:20:36 PM
I like http://www.speedtest.net
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on February 04, 2009, 07:58:12 AM
Hi .:Mac:.,

Let us go back to basics, and repeat a little history. Along with the recent interim appointment of Michael Copps as interim FCC chairman, this is really good news for Internet users. Remember the commercial Internet was created by the Federal Government with the High Speed Computing and Communications Act of 1991. The commercial Internet was owned and operated by the Federal Government under the auspices of the National Science Foundation. In 1993 the NSF turned over the Internet to the telcos with the proviso that it be operated for the common good. If the telcos are reneging on this deal, then the time is right for the US Govt to take back control of the Internet and operate it as a public utility for the common good,

polonus
Polonus is right as always. Maybe it is time for the government to take control.



Also My ISP, Charter, is finally joining the bandwagon:
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Exclusive-Charter-Implementing-New-Caps-100637

I don't think I will hit 100GB anytime soon, especially since I don't have a website like Bob's SharedFiles. Its just The fact that 5 years ago My connection was 384Kbps and today its 5Mbps. In 5 more years what will we be doing with the internet? Will we have advanced at all due to these caps? (most ISPs are not being as kind as Charter and Comcast on their caps)
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: DavidR on February 04, 2009, 03:43:57 PM
Even at a 100GB cap it is ten times higher than many in the UK with BT, a major broadband supplier, it has a 10GB cap then you start paying more or have to take out a different contract. Many others however, don't even offer 10GB.

I can see how many would get up to that kind of 100GB cap, download a few HD movies or TV shows and it won't take long.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: cod head on February 04, 2009, 06:48:34 PM
Yes David I am the same a 10gb cap.If I go over that they send me a e mail.If I continue to go over they will put me on a higher option wich of course means a higher fee.So I try and up to now remain in the 10gb band.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: DavidR on February 04, 2009, 07:36:38 PM
I'm not on broadband, too far from the exchange, so my cap as such is based on hours on-line.
Title: Re: Net Neutrality
Post by: .: Mac :. on April 15, 2009, 03:02:51 PM
Congressman wants to ban download caps (http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/04/congressman-to.html)

Well its about time someone stood up to the ISPs.