Consumerist
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astroturfing
Is AT&T Behind Grassroots Groups That Are Opposed To Net Neutrality?
In the net neutrality debate, there are a surprising number of grassroots organizations (well, surprising to me at any rate) that have filed statements against the FCC's recent draft of rules. Matthew Lasar at Ars Technica just published an interesting article where he looks at some of these groups and tries to figure out whether AT&T is secretly influencing them, or whether they really do think net neutrality will hurt those they represent—frequently minority groups—in the long run. More » -
internet
Here's What The New FCC Net Neutrality Rules Mean
Yesterday the FCC announced new, expanded rules enforcing net neutrality, and they've set aside the next 60 days for public debate. Get ready to hear all sorts of creative end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it arguments from opponents like AT&T. We've checked out the official document (pdf) and below we summarize the changes that are open to public discussion for the next two months. More » -
net neutrality
ISPs Threaten Metered Broadband As Net Neutrality Looms
Remember when you called up your ISP and, after an unholy modem screech, were billed for every minute you spent online? (Actually, it occurs to me that many Consumerist readers probably don't remember this.) If ISPs' current efforts pay off, we may all soon be paying for every little byte of Internet that we use. More » -
net neutrality
AT&T Asks Employees To Oppose Net Neutrality
A reader sent us a letter that AT&T sent to its employees asking them to tell the FCC they oppose net neutrality. This comes after the FCC announced plans to investigate and enact net neutrality rules that will ensure that internet service providers (like AT&T) treat all content equally. The letter and a rebuttal are inside. More » -
oh snap
AT&T Whines To FCC That Google Voice Violates Net Neutrality
On Friday, AT&T filed a letter with the FCC accusing Google Voice of violating network neutrality principles. Google Voice doesn't work with certain numbers that AT&T, as an old-fashioned landline and mobile provider, does. More » -
net neutrality
FCC Proposes New, Awesome, Net Neutrality Rules
The FCC today proposed new rules to protect and preserve "net neutrality," the idea that ISPs must treat all users the same and not prejudice against different types of customers. In a speech, Chairman Julius Genachowski supported adopting the "Four Freedoms" first articulated by the FCC in 2004 (PDF) not just as principles but as formal rules, and adding two more: "non-discrimination" and "transparency." The big networks are, naturally, incensed. More » -
A Series Of Tubes
FCC To Propose Net Neutrality Rules Tomorrow
The government is finally cracking down on Net neutrality? Yes, it's time! Tomorrow, the FCC plans to propose new rules for Internet service providers to prevent them from blocking certain types of traffic. More » -
protection, not censorship
AT&T Lifts 4Chan Block, Was To Stop DDos Attacks
AT&T released a statement about their temporary blocking this weekend of troll haven 4chan for its customers. The company said the temporary block was to stop DDos attacks on one customer emanating from IP addresses associated with the site. After the threat was over, the block was lifted. Here's the official release: More » -
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4chan
AT&T Reportedly Blocks Wildly Popular And Deeply Offensive Website
UPDATE: AT&T has a statement. They said the temporary block was to stop DDos attacks from IP addresses associated with img.4chan.org. After the threat was over, they lifted the block.
You may find 4chan weird, chaotic, or offensive, but you can't deny that the Internet wouldn't be the same without it. There would be no cat macros. There would be no Rickrolling. There would be no Anonymous protests against the Church of Scientology. Did I mention the cat macros?
AT&T has decided to discover what a world without 4chan would be like. They've reportedly blocked it. Specifically, the forums /b/ and /r9k/. More »
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tools
Use Google's M-Lab To Test Your Internet Connection
Google has assembled a suite of free tools (developed by researchers, not by Google itself) that let you measure things like BitTorrent throttling, upload/download speeds, and last mile snafus. In exchange for "free," the test data is being made public to enable further study of broadband connections. You might want to bookmark the site for future reference when you're trying to figure out what's going on with your ISP.
M-Lab [Google]
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INTERNET FIGHT
Google Takes Stance Against ISP Bandwith Throttling
Google has decided to throw its weight around when it comes to Net Neutrality; the search giant announced a plan to let end users see what their Internet Service Providers do with their bandwidth. What does this matter to you, the aforementioned end user? Inquire inside. More » -
net neutrality
FCC Commissioner: Regulating Poor Comcast Compels Us To Regulate All Speech On The Internet. Huh?
FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell (R-Obviously) recently warned conservative bloggers that the Commission's decision to repudiate Comcast for crippling Bit Torrent could lead the government to start "dictating content policy" by requiring blogs to give equal time to opposing views. Ha! Of course, this can be avoided if we vote for the *ahem* "right" candidate in November. More » -
comcast
FCC Chairman Says Comcast "Violated Our Principles" By Arbitrarily Blocking Internet Traffic
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin told the Associated Press yesterday that Comcast had "violated our principles" when it came to managing their network. He accused Comcast of arbitrarily blocking internet traffic and failing to disclose to consumers that it was doing so. More » -
privacy
UPDATE: Charter Will Track Your Internet Activity Regardless Of Whether You Opt Out
Last week, we wrote about Charter's decision to begin tracking its users internet activity and inserting targeted ads. One of our readers wrote in to let us know he discovered that Charter's insecure opt-out solution—downloading a cookie that must be downloaded for each user and browser, and downloading it again whenever the cache is cleared—only blocks the ads from showing up; it doesn't block Charter from monitoring users' searches and web activity. More » -
privacy
Charter To Begin Tracking Users' Searches And Inserting Targeted Ads
Charter Communications is sending letters to its customers informing them of an "enhanced online experience" that involves Charter monitoring its users' searches and the websites they visit, and inserting targeted third-party ads based on their web activity. Charter, which serves nearly six million customers, is requiring users who want to keep their activity private to submit their personal information to Charter via an unencrypted form and download a privacy cookie that must be downloaded again each time a user clears his web cache or uses a different browser. More » -
file sharing
Comcast Tells FCC It Doesn't Have Authority To Interfere With "Traffic Shaping"
Comcast is now claiming that the FCC "has no legal power to stop the cable giant from engaging in what it calls 'network management practices' (critics call it peer-to-peer traffic blocking)," reports Ars Technica. In an amazing display of spin, Comcast writes that letting the marketplace "maximize consumer welfare" has been "enormously successful" as proven by the "Comcast customer experience"—seriously, we're not making up these phrases. On a less humorous note, the filing in which Comcast makes these claims also seems to imply that it will sue the FCC if it tries to enforce any changes on how Comcast blocks P2P traffic. More » -
net neutrality
Video Of Comcast's Opening Remarks During Net Neutrality Hearing With Seats Stuffed By Company Employees
Here's a video of Comcast VP David Cohen's opening remarks during the FCC hearing on Monday, the one where Comcast bused in employees. These employees all wore yellow highlighters to identify themselves to company organizers. Note the two guys wearing yellow highlighters in the beginning (one tucked into his metal studded leather jacket, the other tucked into his hair like a daisy). They leave as soon as the talking starts. Guess it wasn't that interesting for them. Also note how tiny this room was. For a hot-button issue, you would think they would get a bigger venue. Unless, of course, they didn't want too many people showing up. ArsTechnica has a good summary with quotes of what went down during the panel discussion. -
net neutrality
Comcast Stacks FCC Hearing Seats With Sleepy Shills
Comcast admitted to paying its employees to sit in at a F.C.C. hearing on net neutrality at the Harvard Law School today, depriving angry protesters from their right to sit in those folding chairs. Despite the venue being filled to over capacity, keeping some people from entering, not everyone inside seemed appreciative of their privilege. One Comcast employee admitted on tape, "I'm just getting paid to hold someone's seat, I don't even know what's going on." According to SaveTheInternet.com, the Comcast employees, "arrived en masse some 90 minutes before the hearing began and occupied almost every available seat, upon which many promptly fell asleep." The stacked audience's behavior was limited to wearing a yellow highlighter, sleeping during the proceedings, and loudly applauding when Comcast VP David Cohen got on the mic. More »
net neutrality
New York, 9:06 AM
Sun Nov 22
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