Comcast Threatens Delays on Internet Use for P2P Users

CYBERSPACE — Comcast users, beware: The company wants to slow down your Internet access.

Comcast had already started penalizing customers who had been using peer-to-peer sharing software like BitTorrent. The company denied it, but the Associated Press and a watchdog group called the Electronic Frontier Foundation ran tests to confirm the accusation.

That's when the Federal Communications Commission stepped in. The regulatory agency issued a statement saying that Comcast had violated "the vibrant and open nature of the Internet."

As a part of this reprimand, the FCC gave Comcast a to-do list that it had to meet within 30 days or face the possibility of sanctions. The list demands that Comcast:

• Disclose details of its discriminatory network management.
• Submit a plan that explains how Comcast will comply with the FCC's demands.
• Submit a list of new network management practices that will replace its current discriminatory ones.

But Comcast is already threatening to punish customers who exchange files through peer-to-peer applications. The company has started slowing down the Internet speeds of its heaviest users by 20 to 30 minutes.

Comcast representatives say that the measure is for the good of all its customers, but such practices open the door to a "metered" Internet, where consumers who use the Internet a lot will be charged more or otherwise penalized.

Online guru Brandon "Fight the Patent" told XBIZ that such measures endanger the open spirit of the Internet.

"It's like net neutrality in reverse," he said, referring to the net neutrality movement, which would seek to ensure that all information on the Internet be treated equally.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Canvas in-chat editing feature to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Show More