The U.S. military has blocked access to a range of popular
commercial websites in order to free up bandwidth for use in Japan
recovery efforts, according to an e-mail obtained by CNN and
confirmed by a spokesman for U.S. Strategic Command.
The sites -- including YouTube, ESPN, Amazon, eBay and MTV --
were chosen not because of the content but because
their popularity among users of military computers account for
significant bandwidth, according to Strategic Command spokesman
Rodney Ellison.
The block, instituted Monday, is intended "to make sure
bandwidth was available in Japan for military operations" as the
United States helps in the aftermath of last week's deadly
earthquake and tsunami, Ellison explained.
