I remember 15-17 years ago people would surf around and find University FTP sites and setup temporary sites for exchanging files (not all legal). There would be lists of open FTP servers around the net and those would be traded on IRC. This is just coming full circle to happen again on the Web.

It's a result of storage always exceeding the limits of bandwidth.

This is pulled from one of the links. Distance learning... who needs it anyway!

Telstar 4
77 W (in 2003)

Began service: 11/95

Transponders: 24 C-band @ 36 MHz
16 Ku-band @ 54MHz

Coverage: Continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and into Canada.

Markets: Robust broadcast and syndication neighborhood anchored by ABC and CBS; host to SNG, data and distance learning applications.