Posts Tagged ‘ISP’
ISP Network Policies
Posted on November 20, 2011All Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are required to post their Network Practices, Performance Characteristics, Traffic Management Policies and Commercial Terms of Service (Network Policies) on their websites by November 20, 2011 pursuant to the FCC’s Open Internet Order. These policies are designed to ensure that:
- shared network resources are allocated fairly among all users;
- users and prospective users understand service policies and any significant limitations on the service; and
- ISPs provide a foundation that assures customers that they can rely on consistently receiving the level and quality of service to which they subscribe.
Additionally, ISPs must not block access to, nor discriminate against, any lawful website or Internet application and, with respect to fixed Internet access services, support the ability of users to select and attach the equipment of their choice to the network so long as that equipment is used for a lawful purpose consistent with the ISP’s Acceptable Use Policy and does not harm the network or degrade network performance for other users.
Bennet & Bennet has developed a template for both fixed broadband and mobile broadband providers to use in developing their Network Policies. This template must be tailored to each broadband provider’s procedures and capabilities and should be reviewed by counsel before posting to avoid legal issues that may result in a violation of the FCC’s Open Internet Order or the FTC’s Truth in Disclosure policies.
Bennet & Bennet has created a legal package that includes this template and three hours of legal services to tailor the template to your company’s specific network practices. For pricing information or to order this legal package, please click here to contact Bennet & Bennet.
D.C. Circuit Chosen to Hear Net Neutrality Appeal
Posted on October 7, 2011The United States Judical Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has “randomly selected” the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to hear the consolidated appeal of the FCC’s Open Internet Order, which is scheduled to take effect on November 20, 2011. Appeals of that order had been filed in the First Circuit, Second Circuit, Third Circuit, Fourth Circuit, Ninth Circuit and D.C. Circuit. The D.C. Circuit is the same court that overturned the application of the FCC’s previous net neutrality policies to Comcast Cable, calling into question the Commission’s statutory authority to adopt net neutrality rules.
Net Neutrality Rules Take Effect November 20, 2011
Posted on October 6, 2011The FCC has published the full text of its Open Internet Order in the Federal Register. Accordingly, the FCC’s net neutrality rules, adopted in December 2010, are now scheduled to become effective on November 20, 2011. Among the rules scheduled to take effect is a requirement that providers of both fixed and mobile broadband services must make a detailed disclosure of the network management practices, performance characteristics and terms and conditions of their broadband services.
FCC Issues Report on Consumer Wireline Broadband Performance
Posted on August 3, 2011The FCC has released “Measuring Broadband America,” a report that presents the results of the first extensive nationwide study of actual home broadband performance in the U.S. The study’s data on residential wireline broadband service was obtained using measurement technology deployed in consumers’ homes. The study examined service offerings from 13 of the largest broadband providers and three types of broadband technologies—digital subscriber line (DSL), cable, and fiber-to-the-home. Major findings in the report compare actual speeds to advertised speeds, measure overall network performance and latency, and evaluate the effectiveness of applications such as VoIP and video streaming. The FCC expects the information in the report will allow consumers to be better informed when purchasing or using a home broadband connection.