Defense blocks access to 13 websites to conserve bandwidth for Japan operations

U.S. Cyber Command has blocked access to 13 commercial websites from Defense Department networks to conserve bandwidth needed to support relief operations in Japan.

Cyber Command officials did not block access to Facebook, a site that can consume a lot of bandwidth. A Defense source told Nextgov that many commands allow the use of Facebook to allow personnel to communicate with families and the general public, particularly in times of crisis.

In a statement yesterday, Cyber Command said it had blocked access to a range of commercial websites at the request of U.S. Pacific Command to facilitate recovery efforts stemming from the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last Friday.

The move "is in no way a reflection on any specific site, or the content of any specific site," the statement said. Access to the commercial sites was blocked "in response to the needs of the military in a time of extreme demand on all circuits and networks in a region of the world that has been devastated by geological activity."

The Defense Information Systems Agency, which manages the global military network, would not comment on the status of its networks to and from Japan for security reasons. But Nextgov reported last week that the earthquake knocked at least one broadband data circuit routed from Afghanistan through Japan out of commission. Also, Air Force installations in Japan have experienced problems placing voice calls over the Defense Switched Network.

Cyber Command blocked access to these commercial websites:

Amazon

DoubleClick

eBay

ESPN

EyeWonder

Google Videos

iFilm

Metacafe

MTV

MySpace

Pandora

StreamWorld

YouTube

Cyber Command said the sites were "deemed to have the least impact on mission operations" and blocked to conserve bandwidth.

A Defense source, who declined to be identified, said no one in the military needs access to these sites during the workday, whether or not there is a crisis.