Dish Networks Fights for Net Neutrality

 

Satellite provider Dish Networks escalates its efforts for Net Neutrality. Last week the company issued a press release (here) supporting the FCC recent move - "DISH Network applauds the Commission's decision to release a Notice of Inquiry on the 'Third Way' legal approach .. A sound legal framework is absolutely necessary to preserve a free and open Internet and encourage innovation and investment" said Charlie Ergen, Chairman, President and CEO of DISH Network"

Now, Dish is going after the Comcast-NBCU merger. The NewTeeVee site quotes Dish's FCC filling, saying that: "A combined Comcast-NBCU would have the incentive and ability to take anticompetitive action against Dish Network’s online video products by giving Comcast unique visibility into Hulu; combining Comcast’s broadband gatekeeper position and NBCU’s key role in video-on-demand; blending Comcast’s broadband traffic management power and NBCU’s online video content; joining Comcast’s and NBCU’s ability to interfere with EchoStar’s “Sling” place-shifting technology; and leveraging the combined companies’ ability to offer a multi-platform advertising product."

See "Dish: Comcast-NBCU Combo Poses ‘Grave Threats’ to Online Video" - here.

Once again, we see the concerns of how broadband traffic management maybe going from a "reasonable network management tool" to a marketing/anti-competition system.

The current Net Neutrality guidelines forbid the discrimination applications, but also require transparency of service. This may be interpreted as the ability to offer a number of service plans that prioritize certain applications as long as it duly disclosed to the subscribers. . There is nothing forbidding carriers from charging (subscriber or content providers) for improved QoS.

Related posts:

•  "NBC's Rick Cotton on DPI - Or is it Comcast?" - here
• "AT&T Escalates Net Neutrality Political Fight" - here

NBC's Rick Cotton on DPI - Or is it Comcast?

 

Washington Post's Cecilia Kang interviewed Rick Cotton, the chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s coalition against counterfeiting and piracy and the general counsel of NBC Universal on the cost of counterfeiting intellectual property on the Internet and how Washington has been responding (here).

Among other things, Mr. Cotton was asked about DPI (note that NBC Universal and Comcast are discussing a merger):

"Q: But can you understand the concern that the use of technologies like DPI could be misused? Who is to say those ISPs won’t use the data they find through that surveillance for other commercial purposes with behavioral advertising?

A: It is possible to use technology in ways that fully respect privacy rights and that are fully consistent with free access concerns with respect to broadband Internet. What is needed is cooperative explanation of how to achieve both. Technology is much more capable than that."

Looks more like the Comcast (as a carrier) view rather than the traditional OTT(Over The Top)/content providers’ (NBC) position.