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Comment by Shivetya | Hacker News Reader

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Shivetya·

Can't the ISPs just prioritize traffic to FAST to mitigate concerns?

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According to Fast.com FAQ, they use the same "servers" that Netflix uses for streaming:

> To calculate this estimate, Fast.com performs a series of downloads from Netflix servers.

So ISPs want a good Fast.com score then they should prioritize traffic to NETFLIX. A very smart move by Netflix if you ask me.

Couldn't that just be gamed by allowing fast speeds for the initial connection of X size or Y Time and then dropping down to less once they guesstimate the test is over?

That proposed plan could probably be reverse gamed by Netflix by buffering streamed content with multiple separate connections. Or by including a way to check the speed mid stream. Or by allowing extended tests on fast.com. This is a classic cat and mouse game.

That's nice, but isn't it still a violation of net neutrality?

It's gaming the violation of net neutrality that already exists because of the ISPs.

Is not wanting to peer with somebody for free a violation of net neutrality?

Yep, but if anyone else notices they lost corresponding bandwidth they could set up their own such tests and demonstrate the disadvantage.

Depending on their public-spiritedness, Netflix may make it easier for sites to set themselves up with it.

> Can't the ISPs just prioritize traffic to FAST to mitigate concerns?

That's the beauty of it, if they do that then Netflix will be usable for their customers, and people will actually get the service they've paid for.

Wow, that is brilliant.

To prioritize traffic to FAST would mean to prioritize traffic to Netflix.

This tool was created specifically to get around jackbooted thuggish attempts by ISPs to cheat speed tests.

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