Comcast Admits Interfering with Internet Traffic

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
Date: October 23, 2007 10:07:25 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Cc: lauren () vortex com
Subject: Comcast Admits Interfering with Internet Traffic



                Comcast Admits Interfering with Internet Traffic

                  http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000323.html


Greetings.  A few days ago, I reported on apparent tampering with
Internet traffic by Comcast
( http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000321.html ).

Caught with their pants down by Associated Press traffic
tests, Comcast has now admitted to what they call "delaying"
traffic -- in this case a euphemism for what network engineers would
call the spoofing or forging of traffic to disrupt the expected normal
communications protocol sequences
( http://www.nbc10.com/technology/14408077/detail.html ).

For those of us who have long been concerned about assuring Network
Neutrality, this case represents but the tip of the iceberg in terms
of the sorts of potential likely abuses that we can expect from the
unfettered ISPs.

If ISPs have problems with the traffic generated by a particular
class of applications, the correct approach would be to work with
the network community toward solutions, not acting like an
incompetent hacker who could care less about disrupting network
protocols designed with considerable effort over decades.

This case isn't just a Network Neutrality smoking gun, it's a
veritable bazooka -- and it's aimed right at ISP customers -- that's
you and me.

Good luck getting out of the line of fire.

--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren () vortex com or lauren () pfir org
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
http://www.pfir.org/lauren
Co-Founder, PFIR
   - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com



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