Comcast: We Will No Longer Block File Sharing

Comcast to Redeem Itself – The Cable Provider Now Practices "Reasonable Network Management"

Comcast wasted no time and started to meet those new year resolutions already. The company has respected its pledge to introduce a protocol agnostic network management policy by the end of 2008, consistent with requirements by Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC received a letter on Monday from the cable company in which the latter said that it has changed its past practices and is now treating p2p Internet sites fair and square.

Comcast’s new system of network management is in accordance to the policies the company detailed in a comprehensive guide released in September.

"Comcast will continue to refine and optimize these congestion management practices to deliver the best possible broadband experience for our customers, and we will continue to provide our customers with clear, concise, and useful information about the services we provide," Comcast stated in the letter to the FCC. "We will continue to work hard to deliver a world-class service that gives all of our subscribers access to the content, applications, and services that they demand."

The hubbub that surrounded Comcast (especially) last year culminated with the company admitting to interfering with P2P traffic during peak time. Battered for its discriminatory policies towards peer-to-peer users (and sites) and in spite of filling an appeal against the FCC demand, Comcast finally accepted the terms dictated by the FCC.

The announcement quickly raised praises – Washington-based interest group Public Knowledge, the one behind the FCC complaint against Comcast with Free Press expressed their immediate approval:

"We're pleased with the development and hope Comcast will respect the concept of the open Internet," Art Brodsky, communications director of Public Knowledge, commented.

Well, I guess they’re not the only one happy with the change – that huge percent of Comcast customers using p2p sites can have a sigh of relief as they can finally enjoy their activity online just as any other user. And to be a tad theatrical (oh, how I love this!): Justice has been restored!