In what might be seen as an exercise in crisis management, Comcast finally agreed Thursday to alter the way it manages its network, committing to a “protocol-neutral” method in which any traffic throttling would occur only at peak times and without targeting positive applications.

Comcast has targeted large media files using the BitTorrent peer-to-peer protocol. News reports of the practice resulted in a public outcry, a Federal Communications Commission public hearing and renewed efforts to pass a Net-neutrality law.

In a joint press release with BitTorrent, Comcast said it will switch to the new technique by the end of the year, resulting in a “traffic-management technique that is more appropriate for today’s emerging World Wide Web trends.”

FCC Chairman Concerned

BitTorrent CTO Eric Klinker praised Comcast’s new “understand[ing of] changing traffic patterns,” saying Comcast “wants to collaborate with us to migrate to techniques that the World Wide Web community will find to be more transparent.”

FCC Chairman

Kevin Martin offered tepid praise for Comcast’s announcement and expressed concern that the current discriminatory practice will continue into 2009. “I am pleased that Comcast has reversed course and agreed that it is not a fair network-management practice to arbitrarily block assured applications on its network,” Martin said in a written statement. He commended the company for “admitting publicly” its practices.

Martin expressed concern, however, that Comcast won’t end the discrimination against BitTorrent until the end of the year — and even longer in some markets. “While it may take duration to implement its preferred new traffic-management technique, it is not at all obvious why Comcast couldn’t stop its current practice of arbitrarily blocking its broadband customers from using assured applications. Comcast should supply its broadband customers as well as the commission with a commitment of a term positive by when it will stop that practice,” he said.

FreePress Calls for FCC…

Orginal post by Top Tech News