So, apparently, Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) is giving high priority to the traffic running over its own digital voice product, but eroding the quality of over-the-top, rival VoIP services customers use.
The FCC agrees with that assessment and, on Sunday, sent a letter to the cable company, asking for explanations.
Consumer advocacy group Free Press is praising the FCC’s investigation.
"An open Internet cannot tolerate arbitrary interference from Internet service providers,” said Policy Director Ben Scott in a prepared statement. “Congress and the FCC must close any legal loopholes that permit anti-competitive behavior to thrive.”
The timing of the letter is most interesting – FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has resigned, effective Jan. 20 (tomorrow). He has seemed to have it out for the cable industry during his four years as chairman; but this last-minute move has people wondering whether the incoming, Democrat-controlled FCC will be just as skeptical of cable operators as Martin has been.
