In recent months, cable Internet provider Comcast has used spoofing technology to interrupt peer-to-peer applications and traffic on their network. Consumers groups have filed a formal complaint against Comcast with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), asking it to enforce its four policy principles on network neutrality. While this complaint specifically applies to Comcast’s actions, these same groups have also filed a Petition for Declaratory Ruling which asks the FCC to rule that it is a violation of the Commission’s policy statement when a service provider degrades a targeted application, and that intentionally degrading service without informing Internet users is a deceptive trade practice.
Resources
Comcast Petition for Review
Comcast has filed a Petition for Review of the FCC Order with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Case Number: 08-1291. To date the following briefs and orders have been filed:
- Court Order Scheduling Oral Argument for January 8, 2010 - October 28, 2009
- Reply Brief for Petitioner Comcast Corporation - October 26, 2009
- Brief for Intervenors Free Press, Public Knowledge, Open Internet Coalition, Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, and Vuze, Inc. - October 5, 2009
- Brief Amicus Curiae of Professors Jack M. Balkin, Jim Chen, Lawrence Lessig, Barbara van Schewick and Timothy Wu Urging that the FCC’s Order be Affirmed - October 5, 2009
- Brief for Respondents Federal Communications Commission - September 21, 2009
- Brief for Intervenors National Cable & Telecommunications Association and NBC Universal, Inc. - August 10, 2009
- Brief Amicus Curiae of Professors James B. Speta and Glen O. Robinson and the Progress and Freedom Foundation in Support of Petitioner Comcast Corporation and Urging that the FCC’s Order by Vacated - August 10, 2009
- Opening Brief for Petitioner Comcast Corporation - July 27, 2009
FCC Order - August 20, 2008
- Memorandum Opinion and Order
- News Release - August 1, 2008
- Martin Statement
- Copps Statement
- Adelstein Statement
- Tate Statement
- McDowell Statement
Complaint and Filings
- FCC Formal Complaint
- FCC Petition for Declaratory Ruling
- Free Press et al. Comments
- Free Press at al. Reply Comments
In the News
Blogger Call on Comcast’s Internet Blocking
Listen to a recording of the Free Press Blogger Call on Comcast’s Internet Blocking below:
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