Comcast defends Web traffic methods

By Yinka Adegoke

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Comcast Corp has told U.S. regulators it uses reasonable measures to manage traffic moving over its broadband service as some of its customers overwhelm the network by using file-sharing applications like BitTorrent.

In an 80-page filing with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, Comcast gave its most detailed explanation of how it manages Internet traffic on its service, naming BitTorrent as prime culprit, but again denied it blocks content, applications or discriminates among providers.

Comcast, which is the second largest U.S. Internet service provider with more than 13 million subscribers, said the use of network management was essential to avoid congestion and impairment of some applications such as online video sites Joost and Veoh.

Comcast was answering claims by consumer groups that it favors or block certain types of content moving over its network. Such a move would be viewed as flouting "net neutrality".

Net neutrality is the principle of allowing all content that flows over an ISP's network to be treated equally, without any preference.

Although it is not law, it is supported by a wide range of pressure groups and businesses concerned that ISPs will start charging to prioritize the delivery of users' content.

Though Comcast reiterated it does not give preferential treatment to any content it argued that Web traffic needs to be managed to provide the best service for its customers.

"Simply stated, there is nothing "neutral" about a network that is not managed," Comcast said in the filing. "An unmanaged network simply means that users who make disproportionately resource-intensive demand on the network can crowd out fellow users," the company said.