According to the email from Howard, the FCC is "poised" to "punish" Comcast over its policies, and:
"According to press reports, Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein have voted with Chairman Kevin Martin for an "enforcement order" that would require Comcast to stop blocking and publicly disclose its network management practices. The order is adopted once all five commissioners have cast their vote."
However, the ruling isn't scheduled to be finalized until August 1st.
Based on the above, of course, "punishment" doesn't seem to include fine. It's also unclear if the above order would include finally being able to get some solid numbers for the always undisclosed usage caps that Comcast has, rather than the vague limits which seem to trigger letters and shutdowns.
Marvin Ammori, general counsel of Free Press and author of the filings, said the following:
"This vote reflects the bipartisan support for protecting consumers' access to the free and open Internet. Comcast's blocking is a flagrant violation of the online rights established by the FCC. If adopted, this order would send a strong signal to the marketplace that arbitrarily interfering with users' online choices is not acceptable. Internet service providers do not get to decide the winners and losers online.
"Should Comcast finally be held accountable for its illegal practices, it will be the direct result of historic public involvement in this precedent-setting debate. We look forward to seeing the order, and commend the FCC for conducting such a thorough investigation on behalf of Internet users everywhere."
You can read the Free Press' Petition for Declaratory Ruling here, and its Comcast Complaint here (both .PDF).
Source: Reported by Tech Ex http://technologyexpert.blogspot.com/
