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I've been pondering the implications of Kevin Martin's statements
to the press yesterday. Slowing down one network application over
another is the same as giving priority to one application over another.
How do we distinguish the difference in these two methods when it comes
to net neutrality?
Of course, the media often takes statements out of context and without
explaining the bigger picture to the consumer. However, in this case, I
think we have to assume that Martin had a clear agenda when it comes to
net neutrality and Comcast's approach to
throttling of peer-to-peer traffic. AT&T, and others are already
doing the same thing but in a different way. DSL providers like these prioritize their U-Verse video over all other
data traffic on their network. In effect, this means that all other
data traffic including peer-to-peer and web surfing packets gets
throttled at the expense of those provider's TV service. Is this fair
under the FCC net neutrality guidelines? If the FCC penalizes Comcast, Cox, and other cable companies for throttling, shouldn't it apply those same principles to AT&T and Verizon?
It is becoming increasingly clear that some new bureaucracy will be
established within the FCC set the rules for the different service
levels ISPs can offer on their networks. I think Markey's bill
in some form has a fair chance of passing once the next administration
is in office. Democrats and Republicans simply won't be able to resist
expanding government to regulate the Internet in one form or another. A
new bureaucracy within the FCC will be responsible for setting rules
about what is fair reasonable and non-discriminatory when it comes to
the concept of net neutrality.
Once again
I'd like to point out to them and any other thought leader
contemplating net neutrality that this problem can be easily solved by
simply specifying hard objective measures for download (via P2P or
other technologies), web surfing, and video streaming services. We had
this capability when the FCC and PUCs regulated telephony networks
years ago with an Erlang model. We need to use the technology we now
have at hand today to measure and insure the quality of the broadband
Internet to all consumers. Without objective measures in place ISPs
simply can't guarantee the quality of experience to the consumer and
regulatory agencies like the FCC are shooting in the dark!
Jeff Turner
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