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FCC, Comcast, and the Internet

The Federal Communications Commission voted today to reprimand Comcast for slowing some Internet downloads and not informing its customers about the practice. NBR correspondent Stephanie Dhue, explains how this ruling could impact the future of traffic on the Internet.



Discuss this story on XChange - The NBR Blog.

Summary of FCC Comcast Order

Related NBR Stories & Links

• 11-27-07: The FCC Tries to Fine Tune Cable Rules
• 07-20-07: Internet vs. Albums the Music Biz Hits a Sour Note
• 07-24-06: "XChange, the NBR Blog" - Net Neutrality
• 06-02-06: What Good Can Come of Keeping Internet Records Longer?

External Links/Articles*

• Comcast
  Comcast is a cable, Internet, and phone service provider headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This links to a press release issued by Comcast on August 1, 2008 titled, "Comcast Statemetn on FCC Internet Regulation Decision."
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (PDF Document)
  The FCC the independent U.S. government agency "charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. This links to a copy of the FCC press release issued on August 1, 2008 titled, "Commission Orders Comcast to End Discriminatory Network Management Practices."
• Free Press
  Free Press is an advocacy organization that promotes decentralization of the media. As Stephanie Dhue explains in her report, Free Press filed the complaint against Comcast that resulted in today's FCC decision. This links to an Autust 1, 2008 press release issued by Free Press titled, "Comcast Decision 'Major Victory' for Open Internet."
• Media Access Project
  Media Access Project is an advocacy organization "dedicated to promoting the public's First Amendment right to access a diverse marketplace of ideas in the electronic mass media." This links to a press release the organization issued on August 1, 2008. The release is titled, "Media Access Project President and CEO issued the following statement on today's FCC action sanctioning Comcast for unlawfully violating the FCC's policy banning interference on broadband networks."
• National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA)
  NCTA is "the principal trade association of the cable television industry in the United States." This links to a August 1, 2008 entry in the NCTA's "cabletechtalk" blog. The entry is titled, "NCTA Reaction to FCC Decision on Comcast/BitTorrent Complaint."

*Clicking these external links will take you off the NBR web site on PBS.org. NBR has no affiliation with these sites.