Free Press Wants Windstream Investigated For Unwanted Re-directs

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04.06.10

Free Press Wants Windstream Investigated For Unwanted Re-directs

By John Vinson

With the battle of net neutrality raging on, stories such as the 'Free Press calling on FFC to Investigate Windstream's Search Practicies' doesn't do the service providers any favors. Windstream is a decently sized ISP who has been accused of routing Firefox's search bar to a Windstream endorsed search result screen. Now, Free Press wants the FCC to begin an investigation into the matter.

The true nature of the matter is how Windstream is able to get a browser's search bar to re-direct to a Windstream site. Either Windstream is using a packet inspection technology or they've somehow allowed software to install on users' computers. Either way, whatever Windstream has done requires a deeper investigation.

S. Derek Turner, research director of Free Press stated, "We are still waiting for all the facts to come in, but if initial allegations are true, Windstream has crossed the line and is actively interfering with its subscribers' Internet communications. Hijacking a search query is not much different from deliberately ‘redirecting' a user from NYTimes.com to WashingtonPost.com, and a limited 'opt-out' capability is not enough to justify Internet discrimination. This is further proof of the need for strong open Internet rules, comprehensive transparency and disclosure obligations, and a process for relief at the FCC."

"We hope the FCC will investigate Windstream's practices immediately, and move expeditiously to pass open Internet rules without loopholes allowing pernicious activity such as the alleged search engine hijacking."

Advocates of net neutrality now have a case to point to; justifying their claims further regarding ISPs keeping away from controlling content. Windstream has yet to provide a comment or response to the matter.

This report comes on the heels of Eric Schmidt and Ivan Seidenberg's op-ed to the Wall Street Journal. In the piece, the two CEOs of Google and Verizon call for a 'light' regulation of the internet. They believe in keeping it open, and protected for consumers while also keeping the government from intruding too far into the matter. Instances such as this Windstream allegation are along the lines they're discussing. Whether you're for FCC intervention or not, I think it can be agreed upon that Windstream shouldn't be directing users to a page they desire.

Now the wait for Windstream's response begins. Free Press provided a screenshot of the page which pops up when searching certain terms in Firefox's search bar: http://i.imgur.com/7n5xY.png.

About the Author:
John is a staff writer for WebProNews.

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