A new federal report warns that Americans with the H1N1 flu could overwhelm Internet networks when they log on while sick at home.
The Government Accountability Office reported this week that if cases of the flu increased greatly, a surge in telecommuting and children accessing video files and games at home could bog down local networks.
Network operators such as Comcast, AT&T, Cox and Verizon have limited options. Adding bandwidth capacity and laying down private lines for essential workers is expensive and time-consuming. Shutting down certain Web sites or prioritizing traffic could cause technical and regulatory problems, the GAO report says.
If an Internet service provider decided to slow all connections in a particular neighborhood, it would violate contracts with its customers.
The Washington Post
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