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Net Neutrality May Slow Downloads

Prioritizing data could be more efficient, experts say

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 11, 2008 12:20 PM CDT

(Newser) – The principle of net neutrality can be taken too far, some experts say. The internet could be made much more efficient—and downloads faster—if network managers were allowed to use info about the content they're sending, a Princeton engineering professor tells Technology Review. That would allow them to prioritize what should be rushed and what can wait.

BitTorrent's CTO agrees but says he's not sure there's reason enough to trust that network operators wouldn't misuse info about content, which is exactly what net neutrality is designed to prevent. "I think there's a degree of mistrust at the moment where I'm not sure we would believe the operators," says Eric Klinker.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin speaks during a hearing regarding lifting the ban on cross-media ownership, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007, at FCC headquarters in Washington. (AP... (Associated Press)

Federal Communication Commission chairman Kevin J. Martin, center, and commissioner Michael J. Copps, left, listen to testimony as commissioner Robert McDowell, right, takes notes during a hearing in... (Associated Press)

"Finding the network capacity," said one researcher, "will take many years of hard work by computer scientists and mathematicians." (Shutterstock.com)

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is projected behind himself in this image from the Feb 25 public hearing in Cambridge. ((c) believekevin)

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Net Neutrality May Slow Downloads

Prioritizing data could be more efficient, experts say

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Arizona Bill Would Restrict Teachers' Speech

Proposed legislation would punish those who violate FCC standards

Cops: Remote Shutdowns Would Curb Phone Thefts

They want FCC, carriers to put safeguard in place

Verizon Deal With Cable TV Could Be Game-Changer

... if regulators approve pact with Time-Warner, Comcast

FCC Moves to Block T-Mobile, AT&T Merger

Which means the government will have two cracks at stopping the deal

How Wireless Companies Rip You Off

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Prioritizing data could be more efficient, experts say

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Comcast • FCC • net neutrality

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Arizona Bill Would Restrict Teachers' Speech

Proposed legislation would punish those who violate FCC standards

Cops: Remote Shutdowns Would Curb Phone Thefts

They want FCC, carriers to put safeguard in place

Verizon Deal With Cable TV Could Be Game-Changer

... if regulators approve pact with Time-Warner, Comcast

FCC Moves to Block T-Mobile, AT&T Merger

Which means the government will have two cracks at stopping the deal

How Wireless Companies Rip You Off

...and what the FCC can do about it

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?