Obama Aide: P2P Throttling Would Be Illegal

Written By Jared Moya

November 19, 2007 | 14 Comments

Says he supports the notion that ISPs shouldn’t be allowed to favor certain applications or websites over others.

The Democrat’s primary season is producing all kinds of interesting positions and responses to current affairs that many politicians seem reluctant to address.

An aide to Barack Obama(IL) was asked recently to clarify the Senator’s technology policy and whether or not he would make Comcast’s current policy of throttling BitTorrent traffic illegal. According to the aide he would, but that traffic shaping in general would be something he’d have to take a closer look at before addressing.

His positions as outlined in "Barack Obama on Technology ad Innovation" seem to suggest that he would by in large, copyright concerns aside, be for file-sharing in general, and for network neutrality specifically.

Some of the highlights include: "Democracy is strongest when its citizens can engage in the full and free exchange of information and ideas, including freely expressing themselves and learning from information offered by others," and "Barack Obama strongly supports the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet."

However, his most poignant thoughts on P2P throttling and network neutrality read as follows:

They have a right to receive accurate and honest information about service plans. But these guarantees are not enough to prevent network providers from discriminating in ways that limit the freedom of expression on the Internet. Because most Americans only have a choice of only one or two broadband carriers, carriers are tempted to impose a toll charge on content and services, discriminating against websites that are unwilling to pay for equal treatment. This could create a two-tier Internet in which websites with the best relationships with network providers can get the fastest access to consumers, while all competing websites remain in a slower lane. Such a result would threaten innovation, the open tradition and architecture of the Internet, and competition among content and backbone providers. It would also threaten the equality of speech through which the Internet has begun to transform American political and cultural discourse. Barack Obama supports the basic principle that network providers should not be allowed to charge fees to privilege the content or applications of some web sites and Internet applications over others. This principle will ensure that the new competitors, especially small or non-profit speakers, have the same opportunity as incumbents to innovate on the Internet and to reach large audiences.

Not I’m not hear to get people to sway one way or the other for a nominee, but I like what I’m hearing from Obama, and if issues like network neutrality and bandwidth throttling are important issues to you then he may be a candidate who merits a closer look.

Now if only we could get his stance on the infamous anti-P2P amendments being proposed to the Higher Education Act currently making it’s way through Congress.

Looking for more stuff to watch or download?
Democrats: ‘Colleges Must Stop File-Sharers or Lose Federal Aid’
Tips on how to not get busted for file-sharing
3 Quick Ways to Watch Movies for FREE!
3 quick ways to watch TV shows for FREE
BitTorrent torrent sites & search engines
uTorrent – A Beginner’s guide to BitTorrent downloading
News Tip? Comment? Suggestion? [email protected]

Jared Moya
I've been interested in P2P since the early, high-flying days of Napster and KaZaA. I believe that analog copyright laws are ill-suited to the digital age, and that art and culture shouldn't be subject to the whims of international entertainment industry conglomerates. Twitter | Google Plus

Quote : having a less than perfect Democrat in office is FAR better than another four years with a dumb ass Republican. LOL !!! see how long it will take the Democrats to "Jerk A Knot" in the Asses of P2P Users and ALL File Sharing sites as These to them {DEMOCRATS} represent Theives whom are Stealing from The DNC 's Largest Donors The Music and Motion Picture Industries ! Obama and Hillary take "MARCHING ORDERS" from the DNC. They Will Not get Campaign Money from THEM without being in LockStep with the DNC after the Primaries ! In 7 Years the RNC has Not Campainged against P2P With the exception of a Few Republican Democrat leaning Wannabes . It's not in Their Interests as the RNC Gets Zilch from the RIAA nor MPAA. I'm not trying to Sway Choice but Think before You Vote and by all Means Vote !!!!

Elegant_Decay

Just like any other politician tell the people what they wanna hear the old double standard say one thing do something different. It's what america's based on however whomever wins I hope it's the right one

Burd

Comcast is already doing this. They want me to pay extra per month for "faster connections." I asked them: "Does that mean that your regular service is second rate?" No answer yet.

Spurge

This guy sounds like just what the U.S needs. The morons you guys have had have seriously damaged your world reputation.

mountain_rage

mach-1 just because you don't understand a topic doesn't mean it doesn't make sense. The article makes sense and deals with net neutrality. Essentially isp's are trying to decide what information gets the right of way over their lines making the internet have two customers those with money and those without. This would tip the balance in favor of big corporations who can buy their way into the fast lane and crush their competition. The law would make this practice illegal and no isp could traffic shape. Its a good idea and one that is long overdue.

I still don't have a Clue what He was Talking about ! This could create a two-tier Internet in which websites with the best relationships with network providers can get the fastest access to consumers while all competing websites remain in a slower lane. Such a result would threaten innovation the open tradition and architecture of the Internet and competition among content and backbone providers. It would also threaten the equality of speech through which the Internet has begun to transform American political and cultural discourse. What The Hell does that have to do with ISP's Throttling Bandwith on Downloading Content on P2P networks ? Politician Double Talk to act like They know what They are talking about ! Nothing More Nothing Less.

enter8

If elected 1. Obama would bring home the troops a LOT quicker than Hillary. 2. He'd fulfill his promises to support net neutrality. 3. He'd make a better president than Hillary Unfortunately his chances of getting elected are zilch. Hillary regardless of her faults is the only one that has a chance of winning. At this point having a less than perfect Democrat in office is FAR better than another four years with a dumb ass Republican. I only hope that she chooses her VP wisely. If she doesn't pick someone with a drawl she's in trouble.

soulxtc

@PiraSoftCORP I hope not........at least not before I get a chance to go. :)

Of all the people that could be going for the position of the first female president it has to be some dumb ass blond named Hillary. Shes just as big of a puppet as Bush is sadly shes probably going to get the position and start the 3rd world war.

meyou123

Well I wonder what Hillary thinks of this? She is the front runner though weather she wins the Democratic nomination or not is anyones guess.

Jorge

Obama is really making a push online... i see his ads everywhere...

iamyour41

I personally like Ron Paul. He's the man! But honestly.. someone needs to stop this internet bs. We need full net neutrality... and the anti-p2p bill going through congress needs to be thrown out a long with those who support it.

PiraSoftCORP

is he willing to bring troops home immediately?

Obama Aide: P2P Throttling Would Be Illegal

Related Stories

Recommended Software