Verizon fixes P2P problem - on its network at least

Verizon has been experimenting with a new technology called P4P, which localizes P2P file transfers, as many media are reporting today. Essentially, rather than randomly pulling pieces of a file from around the world, Verizon is communicating the locations of their users, so local sources are preferred over distant ones. This reduces the number of hops from an average of 5.5 to 0.89.

Thus Verizon saves serious dough and even better users get their movies delivered an average of twice as fast, in some cases six times as fast. This is a good thing. Which raises the question, does this technological breakthrough solve the whole need for Comcast to throttle BitTorrent?

According to Cynthia Brumfield of IP Democracy:

To accomplish the increased efficiencies, Verizon has to share information about its network with file-sharing companies, something that few other broadband service providers are probably willing to do.

Moreover, ZD's George Ou says the Comcast can't run P4P even if it wanted to:

What P4P can’t do however is alleviate last-mile congestion on shared medium last-mile networks. That means cable broadband and wireless broadband technology will not benefit from the innovations of the P4P working group and therefore must not be confused as a possible solution for Comcast. On a DOCSIS 1.1 cable broadband network, there is only 10 Mbps of shared upstream capacity amongst an average of 200 to 400 customers. Even DOCSIS 3.0 cable broadband can only support 120 Mbps of upstream capacity shared between 200 and 400 customers.

Meanwhile, thinking about the MPAA anti-NN announcement, AT&T has said they're willing to work with Hollywood on blocking illegal content; Comcast has been studiously silent on the topic; and Verizon has said, point-blank:

"Verizon does not accept the role of network police agency."

So, in a truly competitive world, fine, Verizon invested in a real network, Verizon is opening its wireless network, Verizon is funding new technology and isn't going to cut off technologies to satisfy Hollywood. Sounds good. Where do I sign up? Oops, I forgot. Comcast is the only broadband provider (not counting DSL) in my area. That's so weird. What's all that about the free marketplace and competition I keep reading about?