• Internet providers could face hearings over throttling; or how the CRTC is actually doing something
    18 replies, posted
[quote] [B]Internet providers could face hearings over throttling[/B] Internet service providers that slow down games or other applications in violation of a CRTC policy may face a third-party audit or even a public hearing, the telecommunications regulator says. In addition, a summary of complaints about internet service providers slowing down online games or other applications will be published online four times a year, the CRTC says. The guidelines announced Thursday for resolving complaints about ISPs slowing down certain kinds of internet traffic — a practice known as internet throttling — come after a series of complaints in the past year from online gamers about Rogers slowing down [I]World of Warcraft[/I] and possibly other games. Rogers says it has resolved the problem with[I]World of Warcraft[/I]. It has been ordered to file a plan to the CRTC by Sept. 27 for fixing problems that may affect other games and applications. The commission also published a document Thursday explaining what ISPs are allowed to do or not allowed to do to manage their internet traffic and how consumers can make a complaint. The new guidelines say once a complaint has been filed: - The CRTC will forward consumer complaints to the ISP concerned. - If the ISP fails to comply with CRTC rules, the CRTC may take further action such as discussing the complaint with the ISP, requesting an on-site inspection or third-party audit or holding a public hearing. - If the CRTC rules that the ISP is not complying with the rules, it will publish the company's name and the nature of the complaint. - Four times a year, the CRTC will publish a summary of the number and types of complaints it has received, including the number that have been resolved and the number that are still under investigation. The guidelines specify the amount of time given for each step. [B] Gamers unimpressed[/B] The new rules don't satisfy Jason Koblovsky, who co-founded a group representing gamers and has made a number of complaints to the CRTC about apparent internet throttling of online games by Rogers. Koblovsky, speaking on behalf of the Canadian Gamers Organization, criticized the fact that the CRTC is relying on consumer complaints to monitor whether ISPs are complying with its rules on internet traffic management. "We find this policy update to be more of an insult to consumers.… This is not acceptable by any means," he said in a statement. "The CRTC has the responsibility to follow through, monitor and enforce its policies." Koblovsky told CBC News in an email that he would like to see the CRTC audit ISPs regularly and impose fines for non-compliance. Under a 2009 CRTC policy, ISPs are allowed to use technology to slow down certain types of internet traffic and prioritize others in order to ensure that time-sensitive applications such as voice calling and video streaming function properly. However, the rules say: - ISPs must be transparent about the use of such methods so consumers can make informed decisions about the internet services they purchase and use. - The methods must be designed to "address a defined need and nothing more." - The methods must not be "unjustly discriminatory nor unduly preferential" toward particular applications. - The CRTC’s prior approval would be required for any internet traffic management practices that would block the delivery of some content, noticeably degrade time-sensitive internet traffic, and/or degrade non-time-sensitive traffic to the extent that it amounts to blocking the content. [/quote] [URL="http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2011/09/22/technology-internet-throttling.html"]Source[/URL] [URL="http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2011/09/22/technology-internet-throttling.html"][/URL]
Yay
I never knew about this, could explain a lot. Does comcast do this?
[QUOTE=Gammashack;32432407]I never knew about this, could explain a lot. Does comcast do this?[/QUOTE] I too am curious about this, does AT&T (Uverse) do this as well?
I think most ISPs in the US throttle their users
Thankfully i don't get throttled with AT&T, at night, it stops working entirely.
I know some ISPs commonly do this if they get complaints from companies about their customers pirating software. Charter internet occasionally goes down in my area if too many people are on.
[QUOTE=ZpankR;32432766]I think most ISPs in the US throttle their users[/QUOTE] Yeah, and I'd be very surprised if there were a ruling instance in that govenment that cares.
I'm not sure if most of you know, but the CRTC operates in Canada, you fellows seem too be a bit confused.
[QUOTE=Gammashack;32432407]I never knew about this, could explain a lot. Does comcast do this?[/QUOTE] Comcast does not, the only thing they throttle is the uploading of torrents. But Comcast when using cable for internet is shared on a network line, so if your neighbors are heavy internet users then you will suffer. I know that Qwest [b]didn't[/b] throttle, but they have been bought by Century link and and now they throttle. - Qwest was private DSL and Fibre lines. Verizon Internet (In US east) does not throttle, and they don't block torrents either. - Private Fibre lines. Xmission does not Throttle and Does not block torrents, but they are significantly more expensive - Private DSL lines, Private Fibre lines, Private Optical LAN, and about everything else. Utopia Neither throttles nor Blocks torrents* -- Private Fibre. *Depending on the sub-service provider.
[QUOTE=OogalaBoogal;32432982]I'm not sure if most of you know, but the CRTC operates in Canada, you fellows seem too be a bit confused.[/QUOTE]
The CRTC is actually doing something useful now? Astounding. Maybe they'll surprise us with a decision against UBB... Nah, that's being a bit too optimistic.
They're doing a lot of good shit lately. [url=http://www.canada.com/technology/story.html?id=5438200]Broadcast companies that also offer internet service will not be allowed to limit access to web content[/url] Theoretically, this could be used to claim that bandwidth caps are an attempt to limit access to netflix and such. [release]"From now on, vertically integrated companies like Bell Media and Shaw Media may no longer block access to content in order to drive-up costs all the while benefiting their own distribution services," the company said.[/release] With OpenMedia on our side and the CRTC slowing coming around, our internet may actually start getting better. [editline]22nd September 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=DaCommie1;32433240]Maybe they'll surprise us with a decision against UBB... Nah, that's being a bit too optimistic.[/QUOTE] They already made a decision against usage based billing, at least for the meanwhile.
does anyone else have hughsnet? dear god it is horrible.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;32433381]They're doing a lot of good shit lately. [url=http://www.canada.com/technology/story.html?id=5438200]Broadcast companies that also offer internet service will not be allowed to limit access to web content[/url] Theoretically, this could be used to claim that bandwidth caps are an attempt to limit access to netflix and such. [release]"From now on, vertically integrated companies like Bell Media and Shaw Media may no longer block access to content in order to drive-up costs all the while benefiting their own distribution services," the company said.[/release] With OpenMedia on our side and the CRTC slowing coming around, our internet may actually start getting better. [editline]22nd September 2011[/editline] They already made a decision against usage based billing, at least for the meanwhile.[/QUOTE] They did such only for independents, and independents still have throttled bandwidth of 5mbps. I'm talking about a larger scale, barring Bell and Rogers from it. That quote you posted sounds like it may be heading that way.
I'm tech support for rogers interwebs, I constantly get calls for slow speeds and overage charges. Of course they pay me to accept the blame and get yelled at. On an unrelated note; Some guy told me I was a fucking idiot and asked for a supervisor when I told him he should contact hotmail about not being able to sign into his [I]hotmail[/I] account, even after he had already called in and was told the same thing.
[QUOTE=DaCommie1;32436864]They did such only for independents, and independents still have throttled bandwidth of 5mbps. I'm talking about a larger scale, barring Bell and Rogers from it. That quote you posted sounds like it may be heading that way.[/QUOTE] We need either google or virgin to start running lines and either force Bell to upgrade as well or just destroy them completely
[QUOTE=Zeke129;32437798]We need either google or virgin to start running lines and either force Bell to upgrade as well or just destroy them completely[/QUOTE] Virgin has been a Godsend in regards to cellphones. I'm paying $20 a month for my 200 minutes and unlimited texts on a pay as you go of all things. I'd be blown if they kicked up to internet providing too.
I don't care as much about caps as I do about not being able to run a server because my upload is an eighth the speed of my download speed though the caps do go hand in hand.
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