subject: Do Broadband Providers Block Sites? [print this page] If you've got internet security you may be used to certain websites being blocked because they may harm your computer. What is more unusual - at least in this country - is sites being blocked by an internet service provider.
However, there is talk that this will happen in the future and even rumours that it's happening at the moment.
For example, Virgin Media have been facing accusations of blocking websites from its broadband customers; in response Virgin have described the problem as a glitch in their network which has been worked around and is currently being investigated.
The sites in question are file storage site such as Megaupload and Rapidshare which allow users to upload and store files, these same files can be downloaded by other users.
Accusations that some users have been using the sites to share music and films illegally only add weight to the theory that the websites were blocked on purpose.
One major concern with the Digital Economy bill was that ISP could bock it users from sites deemed to allow access or promote illegal file sharing.
Virgin were quick to release a statement via its Twitter feed denying that they were blocking sites.
Virgin was extremely quick to respond and to reiterate that it was down purely to a technical glitch, hoping that it would put to bed any of its customers fears.
Despite solving the initial problem further comments have been made suggesting that speeds on the file storage sites are far below average. With one customer noting that with a 50 megabyte broadband connection they where only reaching download speeds of around 6 meg.
As yet there has been no comment on this but it may be somewhat due to the original technical glitch and the work around Virgin had to implement to allow its customers access to the sites.
So should you pick a broadband provider based on whether you consider them likely to block sites in the future?
Well, in a sense, you may already be comparing broadband deals this way.
When you consider whether a broadband provider has a good fair use policy you're effectively asking: will this provider restrict my access to certain sites?
Traditionally, file-sharing sites have been severely restricted under fair use policies.
So when a broadband provider is listed as having a good fair use policy it usually means that they're less likely to partially block access to these sites than other providers.
