According to CNET reports, Cox Communications will soon be testing a new technology, by the use of which it intends 'regulating' internet traffic on a discriminatory basis. On one hand, the technology will make allowance for the fast-tracking of "time-sensitive" traffic during periods of congestion; and, alongside on the other hand, it would slow-track the "non-time-sensitive" traffic.

While the delay-intolerant, time-sensitive traffic - including instant messages, email, loading web pages, voice calls, and gaming - will continue at its normal pace; the delay-tolerant, non-time-sensitive traffic - file uploads, peer-to-peer and Usenet newsgroups - will be slowed down till the time the internet traffic congestion gets cleared.

Having categorized internet traffic into two types, on the basis of their ability to 'tolerate' delays, the ISP will "discriminate" against some particular types of traffic, which mostly will comprise big downloads.

Cox - alerting the internet world about its new technology - would test it on broadband users of Kansas and Arkansas, next month.

However, some particulars of the plan, and the inexplicit reasons behind it, are yet to be clarified!

In the opinion of Ben Scott, policy director of net watchdog Free Press, caution and skepticism appear to be the overt reasons behind the move by Cox; but he refused to comment further till he could "find out what they have in mind beyond the generalities, beyond what they have on their website."