North American Network Operators Group
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Re: FW: ISPs slowing P2P traffic...

  • From: Michael Painter
  • Date: Wed Jan 16 01:40:26 2008

----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Greco" <[email protected]>

[snip]

As long as you fairly disclose to your end-users what limitations and
restrictions exist on your network, I don't see the problem.


You've set out a qualification that generally doesn't exist.  For example,
this discussion included someone from a WISP, Amplex, I believe, that
listed certain conditions of use on their web site, and yet it seems like
they're un{willing,able} (not assigning blame/fault/etc here) to deliver
that level of service, and using their inability as a way to justify
possibly rate shaping P2P traffic above and beyond what they indicate on
their own documents.

In some cases, we do have people burying T&C in lengthy T&C documents,
such as some of the 3G cellular providers who advertise "Unlimited
Internet(*)" data cards, but then have a slew of (*) items that are
restricted - but only if you dig into the fine print on Page 3 of the
T&C.  I'd much prefer that the advertising be honest and up front, and
that ISP's not be allowed to advertise "unlimited" service if they are
going to place limits, particularly significant limits, on the service.

... JG


Yep.

"In the US, Internet access is still generally sold as all-you-can-eat, with few restrictions on the types of services or applications that can be run across the network (except for wireless, of course), but things are different across the pond. In the UK, ISP plus.net doesn't even offer "unlimited" packages, and they explain why on their web site.
'Most providers claiming to offer unlimited broadband will have a fair use policy to try and prevent people over-using their service," they write. "But if it's supposed to be unlimited, why should you use it fairly? The fair use policy stops you using your unlimited broadband in an unlimited fashion-so, by our reckoning, it's not unlimited. We don't believe in selling 'unlimited broadband' that's bound by a fair use policy. We'd rather be upfront with you and give you clear usage allowances, with FREE overnight usage.' "

The above (and there's much more) from:
http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/Deep-packet-inspection-meets-net-neutrality.ars/

If I was a WISP, I'd be saving up for that DPI box.

--Michael