SDRNews SDR2009-01-29 Comments on Cox Throttling
- Offline GMail from Google Labs
- Technology, Recession, and Moore’s Law
- Cox Congestion Management
BLOCKBUSTER Total Access click to activate coupon for $10 off your first month.
 |
|
SDR News is a Daily (M-F) Technology Podcast with Tech News Highlights from Slashdot, Digg and Reddit
Click Here to Sign Up for the SDR Newsletter
Prefer a Direct Download ? (mp3)
Download today’s show.
If a news item has disappeared from the Del.icio.us list above, try the full list here.
Thumbnail Views: Via Thumblicio.us
SEARCH ANY STORY YOU HEAR ON THE PODCAST
Comments on Cox Cable Throttling
by Andrew McCaskey
It Depends on the Decider
Cox is running some tests on portions of their network to test a new method of managing traffic. They say that ” During the occasional times the network is congested, this new technology automatically ensures that all time-sensitive Internet traffic – such as web pages, voice calls, streaming videos and gaming – moves without delay. Less time-sensitive traffic, such as file uploads, peer-to-peer and Usenet newsgroups, may be delayed momentarily…”
A more detailed reading of the Press Release explains that the nod goes to a number of Time Sensitive types of traffic.
Web surfing, including web-based email and chat embedded in web pages
VoIP Email, IM (including related voice and webcam traffic)
Streaming (Web-based audio and video programs)
Tunneling & Remote Connectivity (VPN-type services for telecommuting)
Other (Any service not categorized into another area)
Non-Time Sensitive traffic types are below the line- subject to delay.
File Access (Bulk transfers of data such as FTP)
Network Storage (Bulk transfers of data for storage)
P2P (Peer to peer protocols)
Software Updates (Managed updates such as operating system updates)
Usenet (Newsgroup related)
Consider the bulk transfer of a video or audio podcast via FTP – it might well be time sensitive when covering a news event. It might be a file containing raw footage being rushed back to be edited and then put to air. What if the next big thing happens to use bulk file transfers or transparently and reliably perform backups or permit API access to medical database records – or transfer bulky HD video files of medical procedures or imagery ? What if pathogen survey data happens to use P2P protocol for efficiency reasons or managed updates for Aviation or Safety facilities get handled via routine update protocols ?
You can bet that some the easy way to throttle that traffic – the automated way – is going to treat that lifesaving or critical data just like other below the line priorities.
The Time Sensitive above the line traffic has one troubling entry: Other If you have the money, Cox has the time. That category – “Other” is available for sale. Just like paraphrasing the soon to be ex-Governor, “that’s a .. valuable thing”
Events in recent years have taught us to be suspicious of Deciders, whatever method they use to decide.
CES 2008 Coverage for Tech Podcast Network
CES2009 – Clickfree
Click to view videos submitted or recommended by other SDR podcast listeners. . .
If you find a YouTube video that pertains to one of our news items, or have produced an item that would be of interest to SDR listeners, please send us the link slashdotreview{at}gmail.com
Save $10 on any order of $50 or more at GoDaddy.com!
Be sure to sign up for our upcoming roundtable. We will be using GoToMeeting. Also, be sure to check out GoToMeeting. Why? Because you can hold meetings right over the Net — from anywhere. Plus, you can hold all the meetings you want for one flat rate. To get your free 30-day trial , visit www.gotomeeting.com/techroundtable.
- Take 10% off any order at GoDaddy.com! Code SLASH
- Take $5 off any $30 order at GoDaddy.com! Code SLASH2
- .com Domains $6.95 at GoDaddy.com! Code SLASH3
- More blogs about SlashdotReview…
- Slashdot Review by Email – Sign up here:
