Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin says the regulatory agency will investigate allegations that Comcast interferes with p2p Internet traffic. He also said Verizon Wireless would be under the microscope after complaints the company blocked text messages from an abortion rights group.
Comcast Faces BitTorrent Interference Lawsuit
A California Comcast customer called the company’s claims of fast Internet connections fraudulent due to their use of traffic shaping technology that hinders torrents.
Comcast Impersonates China and Gnutella, Too
Some of the uproar last week was regarding Comcast’s blocking of BitTorrent traffic, a move that, by itself raised concerns about the power over content and packets the cable company was usurping. Over the weekend it came to light that Comcast not only blocked BitTorrent, but also Gnutella and Lotus Notes.
Proof of Concept Gives Comcast Headaches
In the Net Neutrality debate, the last thing phone and cable companies want is a proof of concept. In fact, as one FCC commissioner has noted, avoiding these proofs is what has kept them on relatively good behavior recently. So, it was bad news when torrent users accused Comcast of degrading and blocking torrents over the weekend.
Can’t Touch This: Yahoo, Comcast, And Video
The lightly noticed Yahoo and Comcast announcement about a deal that places Yahoo’s online display and video advertising on Comcast’s web properties could be an Internet video watershed moment.
Comcast Does The Fandango
Comcast has purchased online movie information and ticketing site Fandango. They also have plans to launch Fancast.com that is designed to help users manage their entertainment experience.
Comcast Flirts With Microsoft, Teases Google
Just as AT&T wants to leverage a better deal with Yahoo over their co-branded services, Comcast would like to parlay its broadband customer base into a bigger chunk of the search advertising revenue pie.
Comcast Cohen-cidence? I Think Not
Comcast veep and “uber-lobbyist” David Cohen provided a saber-rattling editorial to The Mercury News reminding the pro-Net Neutrality ilk that the sky’s not really falling without regulation. But if there is legislation passed to protect it, they can expect people to die, kids to be exposed to porn, the Internet industry to crash, and Bill Murray’s prophecy of cats and dogs living together to be fulfilled.
Comcast Streams NHL Over Broadband
Telecom company Comcast announced on Tuesday they would provide free streaming access of the NHL to its 7.7 million broadband subscribers. This is news for both Comcast, who lags behind some major opponents and the NHL, who’s rebuilding after the yearlong strike.
Adelphia Gets Picked Up By Time Warner and Comcast
Time Warner and Comcast are buying Adelphia (not including Puerto Rican operations) for $12.7 billion in cash and 16% of Time Warner Cable’s common stock.