It’s Time to Collect From Comcast

In the coming weeks, Comcast Internet customers should see an insert in their bill with a rare offering: a $16 payment.

Sixteen bucks. That's what Comcast is willing to pay you in exchange for blocking parts of the Internet for three years. I know, I know, you're saying "WTF, sixteen dollars?! I paid them like $100 last month alone."

I feel your pain. But $16 is something, and for once Comcast is paying you money rather than vice versa (though too little too late given their recently-announced price hikes).

Where that $16 Came From...
Two years ago Comcast was caught blocking online activity by a savvy technologist who likes to offer tin-pan alley music over peer-to-peer networks. He found that Comcast was preventing him from sharing that content, and subsequent investigations by The Associated Press and the Electronic Frontier Foundation confirmed that Comcast was blocking some content.

Of course, Comcast denied its actions. So Free Press filed a complaint with the FCC asking that they punish Comcast for this behavior – which should be illegal. After a lengthy proceeding and some hearings (including one hearing where lonely Comcast hired seat-fillers to keep the public out!), the FCC acted on behalf of consumers and ruled against Comcast. Comcast subsequently sued the FCC, arguing the agency didn't have authority to make such a ruling. The fight goes on, and, as the record shows, Comcast continues to stay true to form as one of the most hated companies in the U.S.

During all this, some customers separately brought a class-action suit against Comcast, claiming it had “advertised specific speed and unlimited Internet access,” and didn't follow through on that claim by blocking access to certain sites. As is often the case, the parties settled out of court, and Comcast didn't have to admit to any wrongdoing. But Comcast did agree to pay $16 to each customer affected, up to $16 million.

The thing is, you have to actually tell them you were affected. So if you were affected, go get your refund here. Now, the question is: What are you going to use that sixteen bucks on? I can think of at least one way to put it to good use.

Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Free Press does not support or oppose any candidate for public office. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media and universal access to communications.