Comcast reverses policy, pledges to treat all packets equally

By Michael Fraase

Saturday, 29 March 2008 10:30AM CST

Section: Internet

Coax cableKnowing which way the wind is blowing is important in business. This week Comcast took a wind reading and made a quick about-face with regard to its policy of blocking BitTorrent packets on its network. The company’s packet-blocking policy drew the wrath of both netizens and policymakers, including an FCC hearing in February. Until now, Comcast has steadfastly defended its actions as necessary network management. The Associated Press is reporting that Comcast will no longer block BitTorrent traffic and will treat all types of internet traffic equally on its network.

Going even farther, Comcast announced it will collaborate with BitTorrent, Inc. to develop better ways of transporting large files over the internet, recognizing the legitimacy of the BitTorrent protocol.

One option Comcast acknowledged exploring is delaying the file transfer activity of heavy users—those that are using close to the unlimited bandwidth for which they are supposedly paying. If this comes to pass, it will mark the end of “unlimited” use pricing and tiered pricing, based on bandwidth usage, will likely become the norm.

Tiered pricing may prove to be yet another failed strategy on Comcast’s part. The Associated Press report notes that Verizon has said that “such traffic is legitimate and that its FiOS network can handle the flow.”

At any rate FCC chair Kevin Martin isn’t completely sold on Comcast’s epiphany:

“I am concerned, though, that Comcast has not made clear when they will stop this discriminatory practice. It appears this practice will continue throughout the country until the end of the year and in some markets, even longer. While it may take time to implement its preferred new traffic management technique, it is not at all obvious why Comcast couldn’t stop its current practice of arbitrarily blocking its broadband customers from using certain applications. Comcast should provide its broadband customers as well as the Commission with a commitment of a date certain by when it will stop this practice.”

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