Robb Topolski

Comcast Critic Calls for Boycott of P2P Settlement

Lindsy Embree — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:02:50 -0400

Full article: Multichannel News
Todd Spangler
The Oregon resident credited with initially sounding the alarm about Comcast throttling bandwidth to peer-to-peer file-sharing applications is urging the cable operator's customers to reject the $16 they are entitled to receive under the settlement terms of a class-action lawsuit.

Should You Take That Comcast P2P Settlement Money?

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:37:08 -0400

Full article: Broadband Reports
Karl Bode
Comcast recently settled a class action suit against the company for their decision to throttle upstream P2P traffic for all users. The suit was settled for $16 million, though users can expect to net anywhere from $1-$16 from the settlement. That's if they agree to it. Robb Topolski, who was the first person to discover Comcast's behavior, says Comcast users should opt out of the settlement.

Comcast Owes Users $16 for P2P Blocking; Should They Take It?

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:49:19 -0400

Full article: Ars Technica
Nate Anderson
When Comcast got caught blocking some BitTorrent connections a few years back, the issue wasn't just one for the FCC; it also went to court, where customers sued Comcast over the practice. That class action suit reached the settlement stage back in December 2009, but the man who discovered the P2P blocking is asking users to opt out.

Media Minutes Extra! Prioritizing Internet Traffic Will Cause Problems

Stevie Converse — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:34:32 -0500

Free Press Policy Counsel Chris Riley talks about the new paper he wrote with Robb Topolski of the New America Foundation, Hidden Harms of Application Bias. Riley discusses how prioritization can undermine the overall health of the Internet.

Media Minutes Extra! Nov. 13, 2009

Stevie Converse — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:08:11 -0500

In this edition of Media Minutes Extra!, Free Press Policy Counsel Chris Riley discusses how prioritization of video and voice applications can undermine the overall health of the Internet.

New Online Services Face Threat from ISPs, CRTC Told

Stevie Converse — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:00:54 -0400

Full article: CBC News
Emily Chung
New services such as Internet-to-TV video rentals could face unfair hurdles if Internet Service Providers have the power to slow the applications of their choosing, Canada's Internet regulator was told in a hearing.

NebuAd: The Snoop Is Dead; Long Live the Snoop!

Stevie Converse — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:49:49 -0400

Full article: Public Knowledge
Robb Topolski
NebuAd was the company that said that users could opt-out, but upon further investigation it became clear that you couldn't opt-out of your ISP sending your data to the snooper, you could only opt-opt out of the targeted advertising that resulted from the snooping. So why should anyone believe NebuAd now that they say they are closing.

ISPs Behaving Badly: Fiber in Your Diet Does Not Count, Either

Stevie Converse — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:51:38 -0400

Full article: Public Knowledge
Robb Topolski
A lot of ISPs are trying to trick you into believing that their network is all based on fiber-optic technology, when it actually is less. Qwest, Comcast, Cox, Time Warner Cable and many others proudly highlight the fiber in their Internet service, all without mentioning anywhere nearly as openly that the last segment is still plain-old copper.

Comcast P2P Buster Becomes Neutrality Celebrity

Stevie Converse — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:59:15 -0400

Full article: Broadband Reports
Karl Bode
When he posted his first comment on slow P2P uploads in 2007, Robb Topolsky probably never thought it would result in an Internet firestorm and culminate in an FCC investigation. Now he has a new job creating ISP testing tools.

The Die Is Cast

Stevie Converse — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:21:25 -0500

Full article: On the Media
Comcast is now the cable monopoly in 40 of the top 50 markets. It's the third largest phone company in the United States, and the largest provider of broadband Internet to homes, with nearly 15 million customers, many of whom apparently hate the cable giant. (Audio 8:25)