if my cable provider BLOCKED! certain ports, does that affect what i can download and where i can go?

[RayEarth]

I called my cable provider(charter, low quality provider) and asked why I can't play on the zone and why I can't complete a single download from mirc, they said that because of the code red virus, certain ports have been blocked off. what doesn't make sense is, would blocking certain ports cause me to get constant incomplete dcc transfers from mirc and lost connections while playing on the zone? I think someone at the cable company is restricting my IP, and telling me that as long as I'm online, their doing their job even if I can't access half the sites I've been using for the past 2 years. I can't play on the zone, and I know the zone server is running fine, so it's not the zones problem, and if my cable provider says it's not their problem, whose problem is this? mine problem for using the only cable provider in the area?

 

[Helznicht]

Yes, blocking certain ports can keep certain games or apps from working properly. Although, I question the ports being blocked for the code red virus. The only port that would effect CR would be port 80, and that would cause ALL internet web browsing to be blocked. Im no expert, but this is my understanding.