Comcast wants ‘bill of rights’ for file-sharers

By Peter Svensson

updated 5:24 p.m. ET April 15, 2008

NEW YORK - Comcast Corp., under federal investigation for interfering with the traffic of its Internet subscribers, said Tuesday it wants to develop a "Bill of Rights and Responsibilities" for file sharing.

The announcement expands on Comcast's new policy toward file-sharing: It said last month that rather than singling out such traffic and blocking some of it, the company will move toward a system that treats all types the same.

File sharing is mainly used to illegally swap copyright works like movies, but it's also emerging as a cheap way to distribute legal video. One of the companies in this business, Pando Networks Inc., is joining Comcast and supporting the "Bill of Rights."

The document would codify "best practices" for Internet providers to deal with file-sharing traffic, which can place substantial loads on the networks of cable companies. It would also clarify what controls consumers should have over peer-to-peer (or P2P) file-sharing applications on their computers. Some of these applications are often designed to run in the background, and give the user little insight into what they're doing or how much resources they're using.

"By having this framework in place, we will help P2P companies, ISPs and content owners find common ground to support consumers who want to use P2P applications to deliver legal content," said Tony Werner, Comcast's chief technology officer.

Comcast has already said that it is working with another maker of file-sharing software, BitTorrent Inc., to figure out how ISPs and P2P companies can coexist peacefully.

Comcast spokesman Charlie Douglas said Tuesday's announcement is "another example of how we can work with the industry to solve these issues rather than getting the government involved." Regulation won't be able to keep up with the pace of change in the technology, he said.

The Federal Communications Commission is investigating complaints from consumer groups about Comcast's treatment of file-sharing traffic, and the commission chairman has said he's "pleased" that the company is moving to end its practice of stifling file-sharing.

Also Tuesday, Comcast said it would conduct tests with Pando's software on its network to figure out how to best deal with P2P traffic. Verizon Communications Inc. recently said that by sharing information with Pando, the companies simultaneously sped up file-sharing downloads for Verizon subscribers and reduced the strain on its network. However, file-sharing traffic places different burdens on Comcast and other cable ISPs, where neighbors share data capacity on the local cable lines.

Pando's software differs from the freewheeling, anonymous file-sharing networks that pirates use. It focuses on enabling transfers of large e-mail attachments, like home videos, between friends and family, and on delivering large video files from major media companies like TV networks.

MORE FROM INTERNET

Internet Section Front

As Internet turns 40, barriers threaten growth Parental software is aid, not answer No music video needed for YouTube success Imdb.com allows free film, TV viewing Best Buy to acquire music-sharer Napster Wall Street Journal launches social network Yahoo's home page to get makeover Virginia court strikes down anti-spam law One in five bosses screens applicants' Web lives Facebook gets another facelift Internet Section Front   Add Internet headlines to your news reader: