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Comcast to Put Brakes on Bandwidth Hogs

ISP decides to slow down users rather than P2P programs after FCC scolding

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 21, 2008 9:41 AM CDT

(Newser) – Comcast plans to reduce Internet connection speeds for heavy users, Bloomberg reports. The company's "FairShare" system will slow users down for 10 to 20 minutes during peak periods. Comcast was recently scolded by the FCC for improperly blocking file-sharing programs like BitTorrent in an effort to manage Web traffic.



A technician for Comcast Corp. heads out on a job in this Feb. 2, 2006 file photo in Salt Lake City.
A technician for Comcast Corp. heads out on a job in this Feb. 2, 2006 file photo in Salt Lake City.   (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, File)
Comcast's name hangs in the lobby of its state headquarters in this Nov. 3, 2005 file photo, in Sandy, Utah.
Comcast's name hangs in the lobby of its state headquarters in this Nov. 3, 2005 file photo, in Sandy, Utah.   (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, file)
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts gestures during his keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008.
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts gestures during his keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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COMMENTS
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Comcast ordered to stop blocking big files
Washington Post

FCC blasts Comcast for changing its story
Ars Technica

 
Comcast • FCC • P2P • Internet service providers • bandwidth usage • web traffic • Internet access • bandwidth

 
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