Comcast Sued Over File-Sharing Interference

Telecom giant says it slows high-volume users to protect wider network
By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 15, 2007 7:33 AM CST
Comcast Sued Over File-Sharing Interference
A sign bearing Comcast's name hangs in the lobby of its state headquarters in Sandy, Utah. in this Nov. 3, 2005 file photo. Comcast Corp., the nation's biggest cable operator, was sued yesterday by an Internet subscriber over the company's practice of actively thwarting high-volume file-sharers. (AP...   (Associated Press)

A subscriber has sued Comcast for slowing file-sharing activities after an AP report last month showed that the nation's largest cable company falsely signals file-sharing software that the network connection has dropped. The man alleges that Comcast misleads consumers by claiming it offers "mind-blowing" speeds and "unfettered access" to the Internet, reports the AP.

Consumer groups and legal scholars asked the FCC last month to order Comcast to stop the interference—some even asked to slap Comcast with a $195,000 fine per affected subscriber. The company admitted it delays some file-sharing operations after the Electronic Frontier Foundation confirmed AP’s results, but says the delays protect the network from being swamped by a few high-volume users. (More telecom stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X