NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Re: NYTimes: Airlines blocking VoIP on in-flight Internet connections
Forwarded with the author's consent. I am not expressing an opinion
on this specific topic here (yet), but it does seem to fall within
our purview.
--Lauren--
NNSquad Moderator
------- Forwarded Message
Subject: Re: [ NNSquad ] NYTimes: Airlines blocking VoIP on in-flight Internet connections
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:22:31 -0400
From: "Atkinson, Robert" <rca53@columbia.edu>
To: "Lauren Weinstein" <lauren@vortex.com>
The network operator isn't blocking VoIP while offering its own
telephone service, so it's not a question of discriminating against
a competitor and there seems to be "full disclosure" about the "no
VoIP" restriction.
But the ban does seem to violate one of the FCC's broadband
principles ("consumers are entitled to run applications and use
services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement")
and the violation isn't likely to be justifiable as a "reasonable
network management" practice.
The only justification--with which many people including me are most
sympathetic--is that talking on phones will disturb other passengers
and those passengers desiring peace and quiet ("privacy"?) should be
accomodated before the desire of others to make a phone call.
When the inevitable complaints are filed at the FCC, will the
airline remove the service--and deny passengers IM and
websurfing--to comply both with passengers' desire for quiet and the
FCC's broadband principles? Will it install "cones of silence" on
aircraft for VoIP users (and charge for the use of the phone
booth)? Or will the FCC include be a general "rule of
reasonableness" to go alongside the specific "reasonable network
management" exception to cover situations such as this? Or will the
FCC simply ignore the complaint?
Any thoughst about how the FCC will (should) come out when the
complaint is filed?
Bob Atkinson
On 9/14/08 2:12 AM, "Lauren Weinstein" <lauren@vortex.com> wrote:
>
> NYTimes: Airlines blocking VoIP on in-flight Internet connections
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/business/14essay.html
>
> --Lauren--
> NNSquad Moderator