FCC's Martin: Comcast Broke Network Neutrality Rules

On Thursday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said he will recommend that Comcast, the nation's largest cable company, be punished for violating agency Network Neutrality principles that guarantee customers open access to the Internet. "The commission has adopted a set of principles that protects consumers access to the Internet," Chairman Martin said. "We found that Comcast's actions in this instance violated our principles." He said Comcast has "arbitrarily" blocked Internet access, regardless of the level of traffic, and failed to disclose to consumers that it was doing so. Company spokeswoman Sena Fitzmaurice denied that it blocks Internet content or services and that the "carefully limited measures that Comcast takes to manage traffic on its broadband network are a reasonable part" of the company's strategy to ensure all customers receive quality service. Chairman Martin will circulate an order today recommending enforcement action against Comcast among his fellow commissioners, who will vote on the measure at an open meeting on August 1.