Comcast getting beaten up

One key thing that is coming out of this hearing is that Comcast is getting beat up on its blocking of bittorrent, but not necessarily for the reason you might think.

It's because they decided to go ahead and do something with their network IN SECRET. The other people here who work in internet management in any way are upset with Comcast for not playing by the rules that everyone else uses. Typically, if a service provider wants to manage their network, they do it by rules set by IETF, or they bring their plan to the IETF for discussion.

Comcast just went ahead and did it. And the fear is that if companies like Comcast are going to do that, any innovators out there will decide that they can't risk being shut down by secret activities by someone out there. Part of the reason the internet has worked so well is that even if the rules arent mandated in law, everyone knows what the rules are.

it sounds like one thing that will come out of this might be a rulemaking process for the whole issue.