fcc hearings, bittorrent, comcast, fcc, hearings, stanford

FCC Holding Comcast Do-Over Hearings at Stanford on April 17

The FCC has confirmed that they're going to hold a second hearing about Comcast's BitTorrent throttling/blocking at Stanford, seeing as the first hearing was filled with Comcast's paid audience members. The hearing is going to be on April 17, but does Comcast actually care. Apparently not, because the man who spoke on behalf of Comcast at the Harvard hearing last month says the FCC doesn't have any legal power to do anything about the ISP anyway, even if they decide that their BitTorrent blocking is a no no. Check Ars for more on this. (On a related note, my Comcast cable internet is down right now and I'm writing this on EVDO.) [ZDNet]

2:43 PM on Wed Mar 19 2008
By Jason Chen
1,767 views
14 comments

Comments

bestpersonintheunivers at 02:54 PM on 03/19/08
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Fuck Comcast.
Earthslide at 02:54 PM on 03/19/08
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The guy on the left looks like Ryan Block (with a beanie) from Engadget :)
TheTick at 02:56 PM on 03/19/08
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I wouldn't mind getting paid to sit in a seat...
iridius at 03:12 PM on 03/19/08
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Interestingly, Comcast has actually pointed the way to resolving this matter, if the FCC can't. All consumers have to do is start a class action lawsuit against Comcast.
Paradise at 03:39 PM on 03/19/08
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@bestpersonintheunivers: very concisely put. well done!
ianmac47 at 03:42 PM on 03/19/08
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I wonder if that means Comcast isn't planning on showing up.
oakie at 03:51 PM on 03/19/08
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i dont know who is worse in this matter... Comcast or the FCC. i'm so confused.
jkr at 05:03 PM on 03/19/08
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umm, yes, the FCC can shut down comcast for not adhering to there demands. The interstate commerce act, and the interstate communications act come to mind. Since data flows in and out of the state through the internet, comcast is under FCC jurisdiction. I do love that one of their lawyers mad this comment though. It is a challenge to the FCC, it's never a good idea to chalenge the power of a government agency, especially when the people are actually backing the government in this case.
discounteggroll at 05:09 PM on 03/19/08
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Connectedness Index: 177
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warning: yellow highlighters will NOT be allowed into this venue
nutbastard at 06:30 PM on 03/19/08
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Connectedness Index: 629
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@discounteggroll:
Would be funny to stand outside and hand yellow highlighters to everyone...
nutbastard at 06:31 PM on 03/19/08
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Connectedness Index: 629
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@TheTick:
that's called working in an office, and i highly recommend it.
sexyrobot at 06:41 PM on 03/19/08
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after their reprehensible behavior the first time, i don't really see why comcast is even being allowed in this time around...
WolfDemon at 08:02 PM on 03/19/08
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what's the deal with the yellow highlighters?
newuser1234 at 08:51 PM on 03/19/08
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wow - one way to guarantee that they'll be regulated is by shunning the FCC.