Journal Kainaw's Journal: Comcast blocking FedoraProject.org 1
I submitted this as a story, but it will surely be rejected, so I'm posting it here too...
For over a week now (8 days to be exact), our local Comcast high-speed Internet service has been blocking access to FedoraProject.org. It isn't just me. It is all of the people here that have Comcast. It is annoying, since yum comes preconfigured to use mirrors.fedoraproject.org as the main mirror site. But, it raises a larger issue with me. Why would Comcast block access to a Linux distribution website? What has Fedora done against Comcast? Is this a planned step in the path to having preferred Internet service to certain sites, but paying for access to others? Will I have to start paying an extra $20/month to access Linux sites? Since it is just Comcast doing it, and probably only in my area, I'm sure it isn't a big deal to anyone. However, that is just the start. They get away with blocking sites here and there. Then, they block more. Then, they charge a tiny amount for access to the blocked sites. Finally, the Internet becomes like cable with package deals. You want Linux sites, you have to pay for the package that includes home shopping sites, hedgehog lover's online magazines, and Indonesian news service.
UPDATE: I told the Comcast support person today that I reported this problem to Slashdot. "Who?" she asked. "One of the most popular Internet meta-news services," I replied. "Oh," she answered, "Let me look into this for you." After a few minutes she got back. "You are correct sir. We did have a block on that site due to excessive downloading traffic. It has been removed now."
Not For me (Score:2)
Personally, I hate Comcast. That said, I'm at home now surfing on my Comcast connection (stupid monopoly), but that site works fine. It's obviously not a company wide policy (which probably would have been outed by now by some employee). It's either a local block for your area, a local problem in your area, or the people near me aren't implementing it.
As much as I distrust them, I think this is one of those "Never ascribe to malice what can be explained by incompetence." things.
100:1 they just don't care