<div id="subtitle">Complaint alleged that carrier blocked peer-to-peer connections</div><div><p>Comcast has agreed to settle a class action accusing the wireless provider of blocking access to peer-to-peer websites. The agreement brings an end to two years of litigation that sparked heated debate over whether Innternet providers should be allowed to filter content, and how much filtering they can get away with.</p><p>Lead plaintiff Jon Hart filed the lawsuit in November 2007, citing Comcast's apparent practice of using software to block peer-to-peer connections. Hart's complaint accused Comcast of sending "hidden messages to computers that are running file sharing applications, [which] appear to the computer as coming from the other computers with which it is sharing files, telling it to stop communicating." </p><p>At the time of Hart's filing, Comcast issued an adamant but vaguely-worded statement denying the allegations. While Comcast insisted that the company "does not, has not, and will not block any Web sites or online applications, including peer-to-peer services," it reserved its right to "use the latest technologies to manage our network so that [subscribers] can continue to enjoy these applications." </p><p>Peer-to-peer networks are those operating directly between users, as opposed to networks that emanate from a central server. Peer-to-peer systems gained influence early in the decade through Web sites like Napster, a music file-sharing site that allowed users to share MP3 files with one another. Although Napster was eventually shut down by court order, it fueled the rise of similar peer-to-peer file sharing networks at the expense of more traditional, centralized systems. </p><p>Comcast's practices have also drawn fire from network neutrality advocates, who said the company was preventing its users from viewing large swaths of online material. Markham C. Erickson, an attorney and Executive Director of the Open Internet Coalition, said in 2007 that Comcast's policies highlighted the "ability of broadband providers to make unilateral, non-transparent decisions about what consumers can send and receive over the Internet." </p><p>Chilly of Centralia, WA, wrote to ConsumerAffairs about Comcast's practices back in 2004. After his wife enrolled in an online college program, the family decided to ditch its wireless connection for something more reliable. Shortly after making the switch though, Chilly made a startling discovery -- their peer-to-peer capabilities were gone. </p><p>"None of our file sharing or printer sharing capabilities existed anymore," Chilly said. "We could go online and play multiplayer games just fine, individually, but not simultaneously. Though being a little PC hardware and software savvy ourselves, we still could not find a way to regain our home network capabilities." </p><p>The settlement covers current or former Comcast subscribers, who used or attempted to use peer-to-peer sites Ares, BitTorrent, eDonkey, FastTrack, or Gnutella between April 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008, or Lotus Notes between March 26, 2007 and October 3, 2007. Those who believe they are eligible to recover have plenty of time; claim forms must be postmarked by August 14, 2010. Those who wish to opt out of or object to the settlement must postmark their request by May 13, 2010. Additional details are available at the official settlement Web site, http://www.p2pcongestionsettlement.com. </p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=65942851&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

Copyright 2009  <a href="http://content.mochila.com/api/content/asset?assetID=2009-12-24:ConsumerAffairsInc/consumeraffairscom/Comcast_Settles_File-Sharing_Law-50193/&uname=mochila_api&cert=d1ff44fd2ac969664ae05bf7687cc5d1&bpid=informcom">consumeraffairs.com</a></div></div>