It is difficult to make it through a day without hearing or reading something about net neutrality. Congress has been debating the issue and, more recently, the Federal Trade Commission has created an Internet Access Task Force to examine the subject. Cablevision has its own take on the situation – with its undeclared war on business users.
The best thing about this – to Cablevision’s way of thinking – is that the war is being conducted with such stealth that many users aren’t aware of being attacked.
If Cablevision deems you a business user, you qualify to pay roughly 50% more for the service from your home than you otherwise would pay. With this you get faster service that you may or may not need but pay for nonetheless.
What makes you a business user? Among other things, the need to use a VPN from your home to link back to your corporate office and/or an e-mail client that uses SMTP (Port 25) to connect to its outbound mail server.
Cablevision conveniently (for the company) blocks those ports on connections to home users.
A call to tech support or a search of the Cablevision Web site will inform you that this is normal for lowly home users. If, however, you admit that you are using the network for business – go ahead – admit that you do some work from home – the company will gladly increase your $30 bill to $45 per month and unblock those ports.
To make matters worse, your research will show that Cablevision considers e-mail blocking a feature. The FAQ reads, “Why have you started blocking Port 25”? (meaning SMTP e-mail).
The answer is breathtakingly disingenuous: “To help control the amount of spam and viruses that originate from the Optimum Online network, we have implemented outbound Port 25 (SMPT) [sic] filtering. Filtering Port 25 is a common spam-control measure used by Internet service providers and the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages when it comes to the war on spam.”
Ah, OK. I get it – but as soon as I pony up another $15 per month, you remove the block on Port 25 and let me send spam to my heart’s content.
There are many ways to block, filter or otherwise intercept spam other than shutting off Port 25 completely. But those methods would require Cablevision to spend money. When it comes to VPNs, very few organizations allow unencrypted access into corporate resources, and thus VPN clients on home or notebook machines are commonplace. Cablevision users are forced to pay the unblocking fee or do without that particular access.
Fortunately, alternative access methods, such as using Citrix or Microsoft Terminal Server, are not being blocked – yet.
While I’ve had issues with Verizon’s DSL offerings, I have to note that in this same geography at least (New York/New Jersey area), Verizon allows unfettered access to business users. I hope I’m not giving them any ideas.
