FCC contest stimulates development of apps to help keep ISPs honest

Last Friday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the winners of its open Internet Challenge.

"The winners of this contest will help ensure continued certainty, innovation and investment" in the broadband sector," said FCC chairman Julius Genachowski at the awards ceremony. "Shining a light on network management practices will ensure that incentives for entrepreneurs and innovators remain strong. They will help deter improper conduct helping ensure that consumers and the marketplace pick winners and losers online, and that websites or applications aren't improperly blocked or slowed."

The contest received twenty four submissions in total, with three winners. MobiPerf, a mobile network measurement tool that runs on Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile devices, won both the People's Choice Award and best overall Open Internet App. MobiPerf collects anonymous network measurement information directly from mobile phones. MobiPerf was designed by a University of Michigan and Microsoft Research team...