Friends of ours for years have complained of being unable to use Skype Video or Netflix Streaming services on there home's "Comcast Triple Play" (now Xfinity) service. Connections slow, stutter and drop on pc's, tablets, and televisions. We've suggested their ISP was 'throttling' the internet connection: selectively slowing access to certain service providers like Skype video and Netflix streaming. But how's a mom and pop consumer to test that one? Here’s a report of a guy who secured an admission of throttling from a customer support rep at Verizon.
Verizon’s throttling appears to have started after a Federal Appeals Court panel struck down the FCC’s rules enforcing a concept called “net neutrality”. “Net Neutrality” is the concept that all internet service providers should respond to and route all web traffic equally, without regard for what the traffic is or who it’s between (like between your tv and the Netflix streaming servers). By striking down the FCC’s rules enforcing this, companies like Verizon and Xfinity are now free to throttle, and then charge you more for providing the same speed to your Netflix account or favorite news site that they provide when you check your email. “Net Neutrality” is a good thing and is one of the core tenets of the design and creation of the internet. Throttling and 3rd-party network fees to access your content are bad. Even the Editorial Board of the New York Times understands that.
An organization called Free Press is running a “Save the Internet” campaign where you can learn more and take action.