Source KOMO News
The FCC has approved new rules meant to prohibit broadband companies from interfering with Internet traffic flowing to their customers. Known as "net neutrality," the rules prohibit phone and cable companies from favoring or discriminating against Internet content and services, such as those from rivals.
If you remember, not too long ago a large Internet ISP was blocking or slowing down the traffic to a popular file downloading protocol known as Bit Torrent, which makes large files faster to download by splitting it up into many smaller downloads which are then put back together into one big file, usually used for downloading movies.
The ISP was claiming it was "shaping" or limiting the bandwidth so that other users would not experience slowdowns. The new rules, although not in effect until congress reviews and passes them are designed to "preserve basic Internet values" according to the FCC.
There are many pros and cons to the new rules, and I'm sure they will be modified before they take effect, if they even take effect at all. Some groups claim, the regulations are not enough, while others think the rules amount to unnecessary regulation.
We will see what happens when all is said and done. Personally I don't think ISP's should be able to determine what gets "full speed" and what doesn't based upon content. This could possibly lead to what is being called a two tiered Internet, where a content provider pays more for getting the "full speed" service.
What are your thoughts? Check out the CCS users forum (free registration required) to see what others have to say.
If you have any system concerns, call the CCS Retail Systems Support Department at 425-672-4806 or email_us.
Happy Holiday's
-Bryan 