Thursday, December 2, 2010

Net neutrality questions as Comcast charges Netflix for accessibility

Comcast has decided to charge Netflix’s content supplier, Level 3, for network accessibility. Net neutrality advocates are very worried about this move. Many network providers claim that they can self-police. Comcast’s new “traffic toll” is leading several to question if this is really possible. The Federal Communications Commission has said that they may take a vote on net neutrality. This is nevertheless under question, though, as it’s just a rumor.

Cost to Netflix from Comcast

Comcast is a media business that provides television, internet and telephone service. Also, pay-per -view online film service is provided by Comcast. You are able to also do on-demand. Level 3 is a content-delivery network that is working with Netflix to deliver their streaming content to your computer. Netflix can be charged because of level 3 with a “recurring fee in exchange for allowing Netflix streaming media … to flow unfettered.” Netflix could have to pay for this for Comcast customers. Otherwise, the service can be unavailable.

The problem associated with Comcast/Netflix and net neutrality

Net neutrality has to do with the internet traffic. It’s all treated equally with this. Comcast was "throttling" or slowing down traffic with BitTorrent. This cause Comcast to gets sanctions against it by the FCC. Comcast said there was no rule or law that said web traffic had to be treated equally which started a fight. A fee is being charged for Level 3 because of all the strains on the network from the Netflix streaming. This is what Comcast says. The Netflix charge is really there for another reason if you asked others. They say that the Comcast streaming network getting competed with is the reason for the fee.

Debate from net neutrality

Those for net neutrality suggest that there’s a great example of why net neutrality is essential. The Comcast/Netflix fee shows the importance. No traffic should be treated better or worse than other traffic on the internet. Making their own deals is what internet providers ought to be able to do like cable television. This is suggested by large internet providers like Verizon, AT&T and Comcast. Do you have an opinion? What is it? The FCC has the choice of voting for net neutrality or letting companies regulate themselves. Which is right?

Citations

PC World

pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/211964/comcast_toll_on_netflix_screams_for_net_neutrality.html?tk=hp_new

LA Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/11/the-morning-fix-comcast-in-fight-with-level-3-seacrest-staying-on-radio-winters-bone-has-good-night-.html

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_neutrality



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