[DMCA-Activists] FTC Endorses Network Neutrality

[Seth Johnson]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [IP] FTC States That ISPs Should Not Block Access
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 10:30:10 -0500
From: David Farber <address@hidden>
To: address@hidden


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From: Richard Forno <address@hidden>
Date: December 30, 2005 10:12:44 AM EST
To: Blaster <address@hidden>
Cc: Dave Farber <address@hidden>
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.


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