October 29, 2008

Full Disclosure: Free Press Asking For More

Free Press is asking the FCC to require all broadband providers to disclose any practice that "monitors or interferes" with their customers' Internet use. It's also asking the FCC to require ISPs to publicly disclose the minimum broadband speed guaranteed—not just the maximum potential speed offered. The group points to the FCC's recent decision against Comcast for its network management practices and the controversy NebuAd encountered over its targeted advertising as reasons to change reporting requirements. "The pervasive lack of transparency in the broadband industry has opened the door to rampant abuse," Free Press policy dir Ben Scott said. "After recent episodes of secret spying and secret blocking, consumers have good reason to question whether cable and phone companies will respect their privacy and their right to free speech." Recall that Free Press is the same group that filed a complaint against Comcast at the FCC, charging that it was blocking broadband traffic. The chances of the FCC instituting such big changes now seem slim, but it does give the industry some insight into what they may be facing in '09 if the Democrats make big gains, including taking over the White House. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has said he supports some flavor of network neutrality, but just what shape that takes remains to be seen. As has become evident over the year, the term is constantly evolving.