Judge throws Comcast/NFL Network mess back at FCC

It's back to the original line of scrimmage for the great slugfest between Comcast and the NFL Network. An FCC administrative judge says the case needs more time to be resolved.

November 20, 2008 - 08:40AM CT - by Matthew Lasar

FCC inquiry on cable channel pricing heats up, then cools down

The Chair of the FCC has been offering hot words about Comcast's response to a channel pricing inquiry. Now everybody is trying to cool off.

November 19, 2008 - 06:49PM CT - by Matthew Lasar

FCC launches probe into possible cable pricing shenanigans

Are cable companies shortchanging consumers by moving analog channels to digital tiers? The FCC says it wants answers.

November 05, 2008 - 09:20AM CT - by Matthew Lasar

Comcastic P4P trial shows 80% speed boost for P2P downloads

Comcast releases data on a major trial of P4P technology that directs peer-to-peer users to local sources first. Not only does it boost download speeds, it can save ISPs cash without straining the network.

November 03, 2008 - 06:20PM CT - by Nate Anderson

Group to FCC: force ISPs to disclose management practices

Free Press, which helped to win an FCC case against Comcast this summer, now wants the agency to require all ISPs to disclose network management practices and minimum speed guarantees.

October 29, 2008 - 09:14PM CT - by Nate Anderson

Comcast broadens reach of DOCSIS 3.0, 50Mbps connections

Comcast is opening the DOCSIS 3.0 bandwidth firehose for customers in parts of New England, Philadelphia, and New Jersey. Extreme 50 will get you 50Mbps/10Mbps service for $139.95, bandwidth cap included.

October 22, 2008 - 07:07PM CT - by Eric Bangeman

FCC goes with NFL Network against Comcast

The FCC sides with the NFL Network in its carriage war with Comcast. The matter will now go before an administrative judge.

October 13, 2008 - 07:00AM CT - by Matthew Lasar

WiMAX networks: we won't single out P2P for punishment

No sooner has Comcast agreed to stop discriminating against particular applications then a similar controversy hits the new WiMAX services. Clearwire's CEO tells Ars that his company's WiMAX network won't single out P2P traffic for punishment.

October 03, 2008 - 07:50AM CT - by Nate Anderson

Lights out for Usenet access through Comcast

Comcast has turned off the lights on Usenet access as part of its voluntary agreement to help fight child porn. Subscribers who want access to newsgroups can still get it through third-party providers, though, and Comcast is perfectly fine with that.

September 22, 2008 - 04:45PM CT - by Jacqui Cheng

Comcast loses P2P religion, goes agnostic on throttling

Deep packet inspection is out at Comcast as the cable operator explains its new congestion management system to the FCC just a few hours before the midnight deadline. Instead of targeting P2P apps, the new system is protocol-agnostic and should be in place by the end of 2008.

September 19, 2008 - 05:27PM CT - by Nate Anderson, Eric Bangeman

AT&T will "temporarily reduce" speeds for U-verse customers

"High bandwidth" U-verse users should prepare for "temporary reductions" in throughput speeds, AT&T tells the FCC.

September 15, 2008 - 05:45AM CT - by Matthew Lasar

FCC commissioners fan out to reassure/terrify TV watchers

As one FCC commissioner talks up the digital TV transition in San Francisco (and shows off his Spanish), another warns that the US could be heading toward a million-man meltdown next year. Can wikis and help lines save us all from a fate worse than death—no TV?

September 14, 2008 - 11:15PM CT - by Matthew Lasar

Why cable operators want to become wireless ISPs

Comcast talks up its investment in Clearwire, a WiMAX-based ISP. Cable operators like Comcast and Time Warner have been battling wireline telcos for years, but wireless offerings will allow them to turn their attention to an emerging threat to their entire business: wireless phone companies.

September 11, 2008 - 05:20AM CT - by Nate Anderson

Comcast pays $150K to put end to Florida bandwidth cap probe

Comcast will pay $150,000 to Florida to make an investigation of its new bandwidth caps go away.

September 08, 2008 - 08:35PM CT - by Matthew Lasar

Martin responds to Comcast lawsuit: we still want answers

FCC Chair Kevin Martin says that even if Comcast is appealing its net neutrality Order, the agency still wants to know what the heck "protocol-agnostic" means.

September 04, 2008 - 09:20PM CT - by Matthew Lasar

Comcast sues FCC, wants P2P throttling order overturned

Comcast has done the utterly expected: asked the DC Court of Appeals to review the recent FCC decision against its P2P traffic-shaping solution.

September 04, 2008 - 02:11PM CT - by Nate Anderson

It's official: Comcast starts 250GB bandwidth caps October 1

Comcast has finally announced that it will introduce 250GB per month bandwidth caps for all residential customers this fall. It insists that this is the same policy it always had, but with clearer limits.

August 28, 2008 - 04:16PM CT - by Jacqui Cheng

Comcast to slow down heaviest 'Net users to DSL speeds

Comcast is offering more details about the "protocol agnostic" throttling solution that will replace its current, FCC-denounced approach to network management. Heavy users will be "deprioritized" for 10 to 20 minutes at a time.

August 21, 2008 - 11:43AM CT - by Nate Anderson

FCC Order scolds Comcast for changing story on P2P blocking

"Surrender, Comcast!" declares the FCC in its Order on P2P blocking. The agency also calls on the public to stay vigilant on the issue and aligns itself more closely with the net neutrality movement.

August 20, 2008 - 02:40PM CT - by Matthew Lasar

Broadband growth slows to dial-up speeds in second quarter

Smaller reports have signaled a lull in the US' broadband growth. A survey of new subscribers from the top 20 telco and cable companies confirms that broadband penetration may have saturated.

August 11, 2008 - 07:20PM CT - by David Chartier