Heard of a little thing called a 'rhetorical question'?
Who decides that it is okay for ISPs to block SMTP and not okay for them to block VoIP? If it is okay to block SMTP because "people do bad [snip]
Well... Here's how I define things: 1. Blocking ports is bad. 2. Certain chronic abuses are worse. 3. When something is blocked because of chronic abuse, the following conditions should be met: + Any customer should have the option of having said block removed from their traffic upon request. + All customers should be informed of the block either at the time it is instituted or as an addendum to the contract for service when they sign up. + The block should be the least intrusive most selective block possible to reduce the abuse to a tolerable level (i.e. a level at which it is not preventing legitimate use of the network). + The block should be regarded as a temporary solution until a better way to resolve the abuse can be found. + The block should be removed at the earlist opportunity once the previous item has been accomplished. In this case, I can see reasons for blocking client<-->relay and/or relay<-->relay SMTP access as default under current circumstances. I can't see any such reason for SMTP. If you're running a network for <$40/mo flat rate subscribers, then, I believe your cost model may require you to block certain broadband isochronous services (internet radio, voip, etc.) or at least QOS them to the point where they lose if others want the bandwidth in order to provide reasonable service to all of your customers without your costs exceeding your revenue. Customers who want these isochronous services have the option of paying more for the bandwidth they need, or, they can go to a provider that provisions for this (and will likely cost more). I don't see a case for blocking VOIP from competitors if you are selling VOIP. I see that as likely an antitrust issue. I don't see a case for blocking NNTP currently. Anticompetitive blocking is bad. Anti-abuse blocking is bad, but, not as bad as allowing the abuse to prevent the normal function of the network. Blocking of isochronous high-bandwidth services to support higher levels of oversubscription for lower-priced service is not unreasonable. Owen -- If it wasn't crypto-signed, it probably didn't come from me.