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Comments on news posted 2003-12-24 16:04:41: Some interesting responses continue to pile up in this thread about one Comcast user who had his account suspended for using too much bandwidth. ..
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 | | Gotta Love It What a way to fuel the Broadband growth by placing bandwidth caps. | |
| | | | Re: Gotta Love It Seriously. If Comcast thinks this is going to help their business, they should change their name to Comcrack, since that's what they appear to be smoking... and Brian Roberts is the dealer. | |
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| | | Ultra high caps that affect less than 1% of 1% of customers to keep speeds up for the rest of us?
Sounds good to me, these dsl reports articles are getting tiresome, they wont stop till comcast imposes crap 30 gig limits which affect everyone.
Scumbags, if you dont have comcast you shouldnt complain at all, something tells me the op ed genius pushing for 30 gig/month caps is safely preaching from his dsl soapbox.
sickening. | |
| | |  schnugglesStays Crunchy In Milk
join:2003-06-07
Deming, NM |  Re: Gotta Love It
said by Matisaro:
Scumbags, if you dont have comcast you shouldnt complain at all, something tells me the op ed genius pushing for 30 gig/month caps is safely preaching from his dsl soapbox.
sickening.
No, what's sickening is that you don't bother to point out your personal stake in this.
For the rest of you, this "scumbag" works for Comcast. »Review of Comcast Formerly ATT Broadband by Matisaro
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Salus Populi Suprema Est Lex-Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC) | |
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1 edit | Re: Gotta Love It quote:
No, what's sickening is that you don't bother to point out your personal stake in this.
For the rest of you, this "scumbag" works for Comcast. »/comment/1900/40091
Do I need to post a disclaimer every time I post? (I never have hid it)
How about you discuss what I posted, not my employment?
PS: my stake in this is preventing 30 gig caps which would affect me as a user, my job is NOT threatened by a thread on dslreports.
Edited for ps* | |
| | | | | | | Re: Gotta Love It How about we discuss how you completely avoided the issue and resorted to name calling in your post? The entire point is that Comcast is suspending people for going over a limit THAT THEY DON'T EVEN DEFINE IN THEIR TOS. So why don't YOU come down off YOUR soap box? | |
| | | | | | | | Re: Gotta Love It quote:
How about we discuss how you completely avoided the issue and resorted to name calling in your post? The entire point is that Comcast is suspending people for going over a limit THAT THEY DON'T EVEN DEFINE IN THEIR TOS. So why don't YOU come down off YOUR soap box?
I didnt call anyone a name save the op ed guy who dosent even use comcast yet DEMANDS they put a 30 gig cap on everyone.
THEY DO DEFINE THE LIMIT IN THE TOS.
Any user in comcasts sole judgement who causes an undue burden on the network can be terminated!
I have posted my points many times and I wont do it again, save this.
You have 2 alternatives
1> comcast has an invisible high cap
2> comcast has a stated low cap
anyone who says otherwise is most likely wrong, cox had the same issue and look at cox now.
I am posting to stop 30 gig caps, those who disagree are fine, the "scumbag" op ed writer not only disagreed but TOLD COMCAST THEY SHOULD SET A 30 GIG CAP!!!!
He dosent even use comcast, what a suggestion, thats why hes a scumbag! | |
| | | | | | | | | Re: Gotta Love It Articles on this subject and their frequency, same forum threads no new information in any article, 4 articles, no new information in any of them, whats the point?
12/24 »Invisible Cap Scrap
12/24 »Cable Vs. DSL (brought up caps in an offtopic post)
12/20 »Comcast 'Rolling in Cash' (*attacking comcast for buyback of stock, cap attack)
12/19 »More on Mystery Limits (more on limits yet no new information, just another attack)
and more, 4 mentions within the last 5 days, none promoting the possibility that the cure may be worse than the disease! | |
| | | | | | | |  JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD | Re: Gotta Love It I think the "point", is to shed some light on Comcast's policies. Apparently, Comcast is too ashamed of their policies to do it themselves. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Re: Gotta Love It quote:
Actually, stating policies in a clear, concise manner, has another benefit: people who might be thinking of switching TO Comcast can make their choice based on facts, rather than deception.
The aup says all that new customers need, if they dont like submitting to comcasts sole judgement, by all means stick with dsl.
The issue here is actions after the letters have been sent, which i agree arent as good as they can be, but upfront cap information is not gonna happen, cause there isnt a set cap, for every 100 gig lettered person I bet there are 10 who didnt get a letter cause their node/habits were fine. | |
| | | | | | | | | | JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD | Re: Gotta Love It I think only 1% of 1% of the people who've read the AUP think it clearly describes the current mystery limits. | |
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1 edit | Re: Gotta Love It quote:
I think only 1% of 1% of the people who've read the AUP think it clearly describes the current mystery limits.
So we all should suffer because 1% of 1% of us dont want to follow the policies they agreed to?
(Specifically since the caps arent known, agreeing to abide by comcasts sole judgement on continued service, telling them specifically how much to cut back or not notwithstanding, the aup does give comcast the clear right to do what it has done)
ALSO: I would(and many others id imagine) consider telling someone who has exceeded a varying cap to cut back by 33-66%((vague)) to be an acceptable attempt to inform the customer on his obligations to the network and what to do to to retain service. | |
| | | | | | | | | | JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD Reviews:
 ·Verizon FiOS
| Re: Gotta Love It Absolutely not. You (and everyone else) shouldn't have to "suffer" any more than you are right now.
All anyone is asking is that Comcast disclose their current limits, and come up with a fair policy of implementing it.
No one has suggested stricter limits should be imposed (except you). In fact, everyone would enjoy NO limits, since that's how the service was advertised. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Re: Gotta Love It quote:
Absolutely not. You (and everyone else) shouldn't have to "suffer" any more than you are right now.
All anyone is asking is that Comcast disclose their current limits, and come up with a fair policy of implementing it.
No one has suggested stricter limits should be imposed (except you). In fact, everyone would enjoy NO limits, since that's how the service was advertised.
a: Public disclosure= lower limits(see cox for reference)
b: Unlimited access /= unlimited usage | |
| | | | | | | | | | JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Re: Gotta Love It Oh I see....
If Comcast can keep their limits secret, and just whack people off their network however/whenever they please, then the limits will be higher.
BUT
If Comcast has to disclose the limits for the world to see, then they'll be low.
hmmmmm....
Smells sort of fishy to me. | |
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1 edit | Re: Gotta Love It quote:
Oh I see....
If Comcast can keep their limits secret, and just whack people off their network however/whenever they please, then the limits will be higher.
BUT
If Comcast has to disclose the limits for the world to see, then they'll be low.
hmmmmm....
Smells sort of fishy to me.
you almost have it, but your not quite there yet.
if comcast publishes a limit, it will HAVE to be based on the lowest common denominator, also it will need to be low to prevent the "value for the money" increase in downloading a cap causes.(im paying for 30 gigs a month im gonna use it!)
Now, an UNDISCLOSED cap allows them to modify it to fit the situation, giving them more flexability, most nodes are fine with my usage,70-90+ gig users, but some just arent(nearing time for a node split), so for comcast to publish a set limit would hurt more people than it helps.
Comcast SHOULD give how much each lettered person used, and a GENERAL guide how to reduce below the radar, but NOT a specific number. The problem with specific numbers to the lettered becomes
"my friend said his cap was 95 gigs, and I used 92 why am I getting a letter"
Comcast: your node has more people on it, but not enough to make dividing it cost effective yet, the cable infastruc....BLAH BLAH BLAH, you see, comcast cant explain how the system works all the time, too much time and money.
Also ofcourse adversting a cap would be a feather in dsl's cap, and theres no reason to give them that if the caps are so high and flexable as to be genuinely used to prevent network degridation caused by specific users(which I believe is the case so far).
To sum it up, the idea is preventing network degridation for other users, whats fine for node a is not fine for node b, invisible limits allow comcast to customise the limit on a per node basis without the additional cost of a per node advertised/specific cap. A flat cap would be the highest safe usage possible on the one node 1 person away from justifying a split(buisness wise, and comcast is a buisness), the most loaded node of all, and for 99.9% of others would be far lower than was actually non network degrading.
Thus my point,
advertised cap=national cap(or reginal)=lowest common denominator=~30 gigs ala cox
flexable cap=node level cap=as much as your node can sustain=on average ~100 gig caps ala comcast letters
Very few people will say that 30 gigs is better than 100 gigs, everyones point about how comcast is treating the lettered is well taken, there could be better handling of that, HOWEVER, giving them a specific number to be under is the same as advertising a cap for everyone, and thus as crappy as it is, vaguery is needed to maintain non capped status for the rest of us.
Edited for some spelling and typos. | |
| | | | | | | | | | JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Re: Gotta Love It Anything Comcast does in under secrecy smells fishy to me. You can try to paint a pretty picture of their antics, but I'm not buying it.
For example, I know for a fact Comcast overloads their nodes, although when you say "node", I suspect you actually mean CMTS.
The number of violations they commit in my franchise is obscene - and it's all available for public scrutiny. If they can't behave fairly under scrutiny, what assurances do customers have that their mystery policies are fair?
If they are fair, then there's no harm in disclosing them. The only reason they can't be disclosed as they are, is because Comcast has something to hide. At least that's how it appears. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Re: Gotta Love It well that is about as conspiracy theory as it gets... you must have a beef with comcast or something... I think the employee explained it rather well. RIGHT now a defined cap for any ISP would kill. But I believe that they should give you a clue about how much you have donwloaded/uploaded, since they are watching, it would be nothing for them to put it in the letter. But inlight of everything that is going on in Comcast, rate hikes, termination letters, the best thing they could do is atleast passify us, PR wise. This is becoming more and more a public notice (eye sore for comcast). | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | So you know comcast overloads there nodes? How do you know this? In the interest of full disclosure, I do work for comcast. The node is where the fiber comes in and then branches off to a traditional coax plant. The node is designed with the amount of homes passed taken into consideration. Thus in areas with a higher population density,(apartments, condos, and townhomes) more nodes are put in the area. I think I already posted a statement similar to this earlier. We do not overload our nodes, period. | |
| | | | | | | | | | JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
1 edit | Re: Gotta Love It On pdf page 27 of our Quarterly Review (found online here):
said by
Columbia Telecommunications Corporation
Testing and Inspection Report
Comcast Subscriber Network
Third Quarter 2003:
B. Design Map Review
During the third quarter, we reviewed 56 design maps for new plant to serve approximately 1,660 new homes. Nearly all of the maps we have received lately have been for service to relatively small areas; for example, the maps may cover just a cul-de-sac or a few blocks of homes. These maps show only the new plant area and do not always show how it fits in with the rest of the node. In some cases we have recommended approval because the new construction area was so small it was unlikely to have much impact on the overall node size.
However, for areas of new construction where we could not determine the impact on the node size or amplifier cascade, our recommendation was withheld or conditioned on submission of additional node maps showing the overall node design changes needed to accomodate the new areas. In our review of node GTW-18, we visited the area to determine how the new areas were being added to the node. Based on our site visit, it appears that with the inclusion of these new areas, node GTW-18 may now exceed the node size and amplifier cascade length limits in the Franchise Agreement. Further, it appears that those areas are already constructed and activated, even though the Franchise Agreement requires that design maps be submitted for approval in advance of construction.
We have asked for additional information about the design for node GTW-18, and the County has requested that Comcast provide a complete set of maps for that area. The County has also requested on several occasions that Comcast provide a complete set of maps covering the King Farm development. The King Farm area includes thousands of new homes and MDUs, but based on the maps submitted for that area, we are unable to discern the complete node design. We will complete our review of those areas when Comcast provides complete design maps.
The report is pdf pages 21 through 32 if you're interested. This quarter shows quite an improvement in the number of violations from previous quarterly reports, though imo it's still a disgrace. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Re: Gotta Love It In the above quoted article it says that it "MAY" exceed current design limits. It does not say it will. With new developments come changes that were not on the original plan. As these things happen, we are constantly changing our design. More often than not, our original plans have changed right along with the subdivision changes. This is one report for one node, it is not indicative of our entire plant. | |
| | | | | | | | | | JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
2 edits | Re: Gotta Love It If GTW-18 does meet the requirements, and Comcast has nothing to cover up, then why the deception?
You're right: this quarter's report only mentions one node, but our inspectors don't cover the entire plant every quarter. If you flip back through the reports over the past few years, you'll find that Comcast has a pattern of hiding maps from our inspectors. There was even one quarter recently where our inspectors didn't conduct any inspections of new construction because NO maps were provided. NONE!
It would be easier to give Comcast the benefit of the doubt if other aspects of the inspection reports weren't so pitiful, or if they didn't have a long history of repeating the same violations.
Comcast has refused to provide the information necessary to show compliance of node size, which in itself is a violation of our franchise. They didn't seek approval either - another violation.
I'm not convinced Comcast is deserving of a "bye" on node size compliance based on their ability to hide the data. | |
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| | | | | | | | | Samwoo
join:2002-02-15
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
4 edits | so wait... lemme try to understand with a hypothetical situation...
say your nodes can handle a range of 80 to 100 gb per month per user... soo you can't define a definite cap... so if you do it is set at 30 gb (instead of something like the 80 gb for the worst node) oh wait.. the guy claims that the "lowest common denominator" for their worst nodes is 30... wow so some pple on bad nodes probably are getting disconnected after 31 gb too!!! yay (and that guy that got disconnected woulb be like... WTF!!!! the average cap is 100 gpb/month.. i only used 45 WWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY under 100)
and if you do put caps you must enforce them with an iron fist... like the highway patrol enforces the speed limit (wait a second... the speed limits on the roads are hardly ever followed and i don't see everyone getting speeding tickets.. oh well) great...
HMMM>>> now a conclusion
Many people can go up to 100 mbp/month without getting disconected... but so far...
THE ONLY WAY TO GARENTEE THAT YOU DO NOT GET A LETTER FROM COMCAST IS TO KEEP YOUR BANDWITDH UNDER 30GB PER MONTH... WHO KNOWS... IT MAY BE YOU ON THAT BAD NODE | |
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| | | | | | | | |  newviewEx .. Ex .. ExactlyPremium
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD
kudos:1
 ·Vonage
 ·DIRECTV
| Gotta Love It said by JTRockville:
Oh I see....
If Comcast can keep their limits secret, and just whack people off their network however/whenever they please, . . .
There will come a time where Comcast will use the mystery limit excuse to terminate for reasons other than actually exceeding the limit. They have shown in the past, and continue to show, that they are an "ethically challenged" company.
--
The Rules of Spam | Maryland's New Anti-Spam Law
Where are we going? And what's with the hand basket? | |
| | | | | | | | | | vic102482Premium
join:2002-04-30
Upper Marlboro, MD Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Re: Gotta Love It said by newview:
said by JTRockville:
Oh I see....
If Comcast can keep their limits secret, and just whack people off their network however/whenever they please, . . .
There will come a time where Comcast will use the mystery limit excuse to terminate for reasons other than actually exceeding the limit. They have shown in the past, and continue to show, that they are an "ethically challenged" company.
Oooppss...looks like that anit comcast statement put you over your qouta for the month.
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I tie a rope around my penis and jump from a tree, don't you wanna grow up to be just like me!!!! | |
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| | | | | | | | | schnugglesStays Crunchy In Milk
join:2003-06-07
Deming, NM | said by Matisaro:
a: Public disclosure= lower limits(see cox for reference)
b: Unlimited access /= unlimited usage
Just for reference, since you clearly don't understand the word:
un·lim·it·ed ( P ) Pronunciation Key (n-lm-td)
adj.
1. Having no restrictions or controls: an unlimited travel ticket.
2. Having or seeming to have no boundaries; infinite: an unlimited horizon.
3. Without qualification or exception; absolute: unlimited self-confidence.
It it NOT UNLIMITED...geez, I'll ask Santa to bring you a clue.
--
Salus Populi Suprema Est Lex-Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC) | |
| | | | | | | | | |  DanTrailer Park SupervisorPremium
join:2002-12-17
Eh?
 ·Rogers Hi-Speed
| Re: Gotta Love It This is the thing. My ISP has the same thing. Rogers Cable Internet has this "invisible cap" and its annoying.
The way I see it Stores can get in trouble with the law for advertising a product, but not having it in the store (In Canada at least). With ISP advertising "Unlimited" it is up to the uneducated consumer to assume that there is NO limitation on this account.
Now if Comcast and Rogers were to post the limit in there TOS or AUP, then we users could monitor our own usage and adjust accordingly. While in this situation now, people are suspended for going over a limit that no one but the suits at the ISP set on a whim.
The "ball" or should I say the Bandwidth should be in the customers court. We are the users, and have a certain amount of power over these Corporations.
I know from my own personal experience with the Top Techs at my ISP, bandwidth limitations are compiled by a percentage of top users in the area (70,000). That means if we were to all limit our usage to say 15 gigs a month we would have really low caps. Rogers cap warnings/emails/phone calls all happen on an automated system, so If we were to limit the usage ourselves, users, in theory, could crash the limit system.
My last point is this. If we do not know what we can and cannot do, some one is bound to get hurt. And it has already happened. Users who don't know how much to limit are getting kicked from the networks. Some guy at the ISP is sitting in his cubical and tinkering with the limits. What happens if he messes up. What happens if Rogers Internet, or Comcast decide to kick a user just because they can. If they are the only ISP's in the area (not dialup)and a user need the internet and the bandwidth to transfer files to work what does he do? He upgrades to a business account, paying more money for a connection he's always had, but now he doesnt fear the unknow limit. I see this as a marketing scam, and I hope both ISP's get hit hard in the court system for running monopoly's. M$ got hit with it. Rogers, Comcast... It is your turn.
-Dan
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3 mbps is official on Rogers HSE. For more information on it, please pm me for the recorded mp3 conversation with the techs. | |
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| | | | | |  BHaasiePremium
join:2002-06-16
Middletown, PA | said by Matisaro:
THEY DO DEFINE THE LIMIT IN THE TOS.
Please by all means point me to where the LIMIT is in the TOS. Not some cant go over the bandwidth since that is talking about the speed not the amount i.e., if you have silver your DL is limited to 3.0Mbps and you can not uncap your modem and get 10Mbps.......
I am patiently waiting to see this limit. I do recall "Always On and UNLIMITED" to me unlimited is well unlimited... | |
| | | | | | | | | | Re: Gotta Love It quote:
I am patiently waiting to see this limit. I do recall "Always On and UNLIMITED" to me unlimited is well unlimited...
Why do you ask me to answer a question I answered right below what you quoted in my post?
The limit is when "incomcasts sole judgement" you cause netowork issues.
You agreed to the aup, live with it. | |
| | | | | | | | | BHaasiePremium
join:2002-06-16
Middletown, PA | Re: Gotta Love It So you are saying you do not mind limited unlimited? Also on this same note. You would be OK with not posting speedlimits on our highways and leaving it to the "Sole Judgement" of the officer sitting along the road??????
One day you can go 20 and on the same stretch of road the next you can go 50. Or is that vise versa??? I'm confused! | |
| | | | | | | | | | | I find it to be both interesting and noteworthy that in none of the notification letters sent to subscribers does Comcast note that the usage in question causes network issues. The oft-quoted section of the AUP indicates quote:
You must comply with all current bandwidth, data storage, and other limitations on the Service established by Comcast and its suppliers. In addition, you may only access and use the Service with a dynamic Internet Protocol ("IP") address that adheres to the dynamic host configuration protocol ("DHCP"). You may not access or use the Service with a static IP address or using any protocol other than DHCP unless you are subject to a Service plan that expressly permits otherwise.
You must ensure that your activity (including, but not limited to, use made by you or others of any Personal Web Features) does not improperly restrict, inhibit, or degrade any other user's use of the Service, nor represent (in the sole judgment of Comcast) an unusually large burden on the network. In addition, you must ensure that your activities do not improperly restrict, inhibit, disrupt, degrade or impede Comcast's ability to deliver the Service and monitor the Service, backbone, network nodes, and/or other network Services.
While the letters do note that the customer's usage exceeded Comcast's Bandwidth Usage Limitations for your service, there is no indication contained within the letters that the user's activity represented an unusually large burden on the network or restricted, degraded, or inhibited any other user's use of the service. | |
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| | | | | |  novaflareThe Dragon Was HerePremium
join:2002-01-24
Barberton, OH | said by Matisaro:
THEY DO DEFINE THE LIMIT IN THE TOS.
Any user in comcasts sole judgement who causes an undue burden on the network can be terminated!
I have posted my points many times and I wont do it again, save this.
He dosent even use comcast, what a suggestion, thats why hes a scumbag!
in bold that tells those who use comcast nothing is it 1 2 3 10 20 30 40 50 or 60 gigs more than 60 less that 1 what is the limit and dont say 30x national median no one knows that number except comcast.
Ditch the script stop qouteing the tos and be a man instead of a puppet for comcast and state what the limit is.
And no i do not use comcast but i also dont want my isp thinking they acan impose this sort of crap cap on me because comcast gets away with it.
Call me a scumbag a *** hole a moron if you want i dont realy care. Want to know why i dont care? no? well to bad im going to tell you any how i dont care because i know you are nothign more than a know nothing know it all.
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my fav mmorpg »www.rubiesofeventide.com if you sign up use novaflare as referal | |
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| | | | | | Your job is no threatened but Comcast reputation worsens.
1. Thats cause you work for them, and you should even help the customers here and Comcast a better rep.
2. You flame the customers which is so wrong that if i knew you in personal life i would get you fiered in 24hours.
3. You stated that everything was fine after you started working for them, but before you werent working for them you had problems. Well that shows something about Comcast does it not.
Not only you know someone that can help you asap but you may even have access to the network, more than anyone here.
Which brings me to the point, your post is weak and you should be ashamed to even post a rude comment to a Comcast customer, since you are a employed by them.
Martin D.
--
That, that is, is.That, that is not, is not.That, that is, is not that, that is not.That, that is not, is not that, that is. | |
| | | | | | | Well I would have to say that there has always been issues with comcast and sneaky ways of trying to be competitive with DSL. We all know there is limitations and eventually when DSL is available at every home cable will have a serious problem....
on a second note this is a free country if someone wants to call someone a name or tell them what they think more power to them!!
Unfortunately when they do people always pop out of the wood work saying how this isn't the place for that... quit your crying.... | |
| | | | | | schnugglesStays Crunchy In Milk
join:2003-06-07
Deming, NM | Re: Gotta Love It said by theeinstein:
Well I would have to say that there has always been issues with comcast and sneaky ways of trying to be competitive with DSL. We all know there is limitations and eventually when DSL is available at every home cable will have a serious problem....
Don't get me wrong: I love my cable connection. We have DSL here, but 1200/128(DSL) vs. 1800/256(Comcast) for about the same money doesn't fly for me. That said, I may take Comcast to court on this issue purely on principle. I'd have to locate someone in CA that's been disconnected...and decide if I can spare the time...we'll see.
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Salus Populi Suprema Est Lex-Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC) | |
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| | | novaflareThe Dragon Was HerePremium
join:2002-01-24
Barberton, OH | said by schnuggles:
said by Matisaro:
Scumbags, if you dont have comcast you shouldnt complain at all, something tells me the op ed genius pushing for 30 gig/month caps is safely preaching from his dsl soapbox.
sickening.
No, what's sickening is that you don't bother to point out your personal stake in this.
For the rest of you, this "scumbag" works for Comcast. »Review of Comcast Formerly ATT Broadband by Matisaro
just call him the puppet man mr puppet man Matisaro
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my fav mmorpg »www.rubiesofeventide.com if you sign up use novaflare as referal | |
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| | | | |  goober22Resident Duh-Huh Member
join:2001-12-28
Panama City, FL | What's with the name calling? And WHO has asked for 30GB caps???
Comcast just needs to say what their "unlimited" limit is; that's all anybody has asked for. | |
| | |  WeSRT4
join:2000-11-20
Mobile, AL
 ·AT&T Southeast
| said by Matisaro:
Ultra high caps that affect less than 1% of 1% of customers to keep speeds up for the rest of us?
Sounds good to me, these dsl reports articles are getting tiresome, they wont stop till comcast imposes crap 30 gig limits which affect everyone.
Scumbags, if you dont have comcast you shouldnt complain at all, something tells me the op ed genius pushing for 30 gig/month caps is safely preaching from his dsl soapbox.
sickening.
I must say that you bring up an interesting point as to why there aren't clearly stated limits. I for one would rather have a very high unstated limit than a 30gb stated limit. I think Comcast has different invisible limits for different areas depending on network congestion in a particular area. So a across the board universal limit is really not efficient. | |
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1 edit | Ultra high caps that affect less than 1% of 1% of diners to keep food available for the rest of us?
Sounds good to me, these Zagat articles are getting tiresome, they won't stop till the "All You Can Eat Buffet" imposes crap 3 plate limits which affect everyone.
Scumbags, if you don't eat at "All You Can Eat," you shouldn't complain at all, something tells me the op ed genius pusing for 3 plate/dinner caps is safely preaching from his restaurant across the street soapbox.
IOW, the issue here isn't that there's a cap, or even that there's an undisclosed cap. It's that Comcast wants to have its cake (advertise unlimited broadband) and eat it too (not provide unlimited broadband). Your employer is due for a smackdown in the marketplace, if not from regulators. (Yes, I'm preaching from my "DSL soapbox." I live in an area serviced (in the animal husbandry sense) by Comcast. Don't use Comcast, and never will. Will also recommend that others don't.) | |
| | | | | | Re: Gotta Love It Picturing german audobon(sp?) here. There is no "posted" speed limit but a cop pulls you over and impounds your car because you were going faster than the general crowd.
I've never driven on the audobon (or used comcast for that matter) so i can't say what the conditions are like. But boasting unlimited speeds and or usage and then c(r)apping on people borders on false advertisement in my opinion.
Makes me a wee bit glad comcast flat out refused to install my cable modem/tv on the basis that i have no existing cable line connected to my house and the initial setup costs to them outweighed what i would have paid on a monthly basis 
So i just putt putt along the digital highway on my 784dsl modem. Yes it's a V6 in a crowd of V8/V10's, but it gets good gas mileage and doesnt have a cap 
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"Not that you would, but you could" | |
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4 edits | said by Matisaro:
Ultra high caps that affect less than 1% of 1% of customers to keep speeds up for the rest of us?
Sounds good to me, these dsl reports articles are getting tiresome, they wont stop till comcast imposes crap 30 gig limits which affect everyone.
Scumbags, if you dont have comcast you shouldnt complain at all, something tells me the op ed genius pushing for 30 gig/month caps is safely preaching from his dsl soapbox.
sickening.
With a Speakeasy banner ad on the front page, too... 5 times faster than cable, right?
BTW Speakeasy rules, in case you don't know, but I really do get the feeling that this broadband reports should almost rename themselves Comcast sucks or let's bash Comcast or something.
But seriously, broadband reports is an excellent resource. Broadband reports is an AWESOME website, but it's getting really hard to take these Comcast bandwidth threads seriously anymore.
Isn't a 75+ page thread and a front page summary article ENOUGH for one month, considering we are going to start all over next month? It shows a slight, if perhaps unintentional, lack of understanding - consumers aren't being given any really valuable information (although I have tried), they are being pitted against each other in some bar-room turned virtual bulletin board brawl. How does this help the consumer? We should have a "sticky" on the Comcast forum about this like there is on the OOL forum - stating a synopsis of what we know so far and/or links to previous threads, along with perhaps a "try to keep it constructive" or "try to avoid bashing Comcast" hints, or something like that.
This is important stuff, and we should try to get it right so that other folks don't have to experience bad experiences.
Some good, some bad... none of us are perfect, but if we learn to listen to one another and respect one another, we can go far.
I still want to thank, and I have a lot of respect for broadbandreports for all the hard work they do, and for all the mods for all the hard work they do, and for all the other posters who try to help others with constructive tips and tricks, totally. I am not trying to be negative. I would just wish someone would re-evalute the way this topic is being approached focusing on the consumer's right to be treated like a human being - I don't think that there is any dispute that some people are feeling very bad about this whole thing, and I'd like to at least try to make those folks feel better. | |
| | |  midranger4Stupid Is No longer in VoguePremium
join:2002-01-18
Levittown, PA | What's the matter Matisaro the PR campaign here at BBR not going as Comcast had planned? My heart bleeds for you.
To all who might not be aware Matisaro here has been thread squatting on behalf of Comcast (whether on his own time or company sponsored time is up for debate) here at BBR. He spews the same old rhetoric he is regurgitating here and appears more highly trained than my prize African grey parrot at saying the same thing over and over and over.
He is an amusing fellow with little to offer other than his chicken little "the sky is falling" prophecy if hard caps are imposed. He loves to make reference to a 30GB hard cap as the only alternative to the invisible cap that is eventually going to cost Comcast a lawsuit yet he is in absolutely no position to make such presumptions.
Many other options besides the invisible cap have been discussed in great detail in the Comcast Forum and I would encourage everyone to read the corresponding threads for some background on the subject.
As for Matisaro, our resident Comcast drone, I would strongly suggest everyone take what he says with a grain of salt as he is clearly predisposed.
I suspect his stay here at BBR will be ending soon and Comcast will send in another shill with better presentation skills in an attempt to spin the unspinnable.
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Democracy is the illusion of Freedom | |
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See 7 replies to this post | |
| | | | Do you not understand how cable works?
All users in an area run through the same "node" and share the same bandwidth. The available bandwidth and speed averages out for all users. If there are only two users on at a time in an area, those two users should get to share the entire available bandwidth of that node 50% each. There is no reason to say "well, even though NOBODY ELSE IS USING BANDWIDTH RIGHT NOW, we're going to limite each of you to 10% of the limit".
It's like a pool of water. The water seeks an average level. Similarly, as more users come online in an area at any given moment, the speed of the person who was sucking up all the bandwidth before is limited by averaging out to the other users so that all of the users have the same average speed.
This is NOT a case of 1% of the users using all the bandwidth. They can only use the bandwidth that is even available. And when other users need bandwidth, they get an equal share. There is no "well, this user was online first so he gets 80% of the bandwidth for his download while everyone else has to deal with 20% speeds".
You're just being ridiculous. | |
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| | | Stepping outside the argument for a moment, how can I tell how much Comcast bandwidth I've used in a month, week, etc.??? I have no idea what level of consumption I've been using... | |
| |  seaquakePremium,MVM
join:2001-03-23
Millersville, MD
·Verizon FiOS
| I'm getting to the point now where I really don't care. As long as I'm not personally affected, I'm not going to raise a stink about it.
I, like others here, fear that it's only a matter of time before comcast does someting (like a 30g limit) that does affect everyone.
When that time comes, it may be bye-bye time to digital cable and cable internet and back to DSL.
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"Are you on the Distributed Computing Map?" | |
| | wentlancYou Can't Fix Dumb..
join:2003-07-30
Maineville, OH | What's happening here is basically a sleazy business decision. Instead of splitting a node like they should, they are cutting off the heavy users. So they lose $45 a month, big deal. They are saving the thousands of dollars that it would cost to split the node. So they are just trying to save some cash by not investing in their network. A business cal which has turned sour for them because of how public the issue has become. The TOS is worded broadly, on purpose might I add, so they have the agreement to back up their decisions.
puritan | |
| | vic102482Premium
join:2002-04-30
Upper Marlboro, MD Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Simple answer to this problem. Spell out the caps. Comcast is using sleizy business practices so that they wont end up with a bad name like cox. AUPS have shit to do with state law, and that is false/deceptive advertising.
Comcast needs to state their caps and leave that at that.
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I tie a rope around my penis and jump from a tree, don't you wanna grow up to be just like me!!!! | |
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seaquakePremium,MVM
join:2001-03-23
Millersville, MD Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Not surprised This is what happens when Comcast is Judge, Jury and Executioner. I think the only recourse is to try to go through the Better Business Bureau or the local cable representative. I wouldn't expect much luck going either way.
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"Are you on the Distributed Computing Map?" | |
| |  xdeadhead220, 221, Whatever It Takes.Premium
join:2000-11-08
Mechanicsburg, PA
·Verizon FiOS
·Comcast
| hmmmm maybe they dont say what the exact amount is cause every situation is different. and they may actually not want to penalize everyone for the actions of a small minority. or is that giving them too much credit?
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lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine. | |
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See 19 replies to this post | |
 DescentWrap It UpPremium
join:2000-11-10
Hoboken, NJ | Is it just me... ... or have there been like 5 news articles about the comcast invisible bandwidth cap stuff? maybe if they write one more comcast will tell us all what the limit is??? i don't think they care about the few customers that they turn off for over using. out of their million customer market, they haven't even shut off 1% of that.
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Check out BBR's own Counter-Strike server: bbrcs.clanspace.com:27015
www.cstrike-planet.com | |
|  ObdHPremium
join:2003-06-11
Litchfield Park, AZ | asdf they should atleast do as cox does...where they clearly state how much banwidth you can use (though use as much as 3x most months) and that way they look like somewhat less than overly vague bafoons
its like going to an all you can eat buffet, but eating 10x as much as everyone else, and getting kicked out because you consume more than the average customer
because that is what is going to be assumed if they dont state the limitations
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The man who has no inner life is the slave of his surroundings.-- Henri Frederic Amiel | |
|  borvOnemhz On Aim
join:2000-10-06
Astoria, NY |  hmmm
If you dont like it, then why dont you change to an ISP that actually supports unlimited transfers? | |
| | jxsi
join:2003-12-04
Tempe, AZ | Re: hmmm Some people don't have the luxury to change ISPs, especially if cable is their only option. | |
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jxsi
join:2003-12-04
Tempe, AZ | Sad state of broadband in the US.. I have lots of friends outside the US (Canada, Japan and Holland).. and I am amazed at how much better broadband internet access is there - and even cheaper per megabit. Most of the companies have done away with their bandwidth caps and seem to actually care about expanding the reach of broadband internet as well as maintaining their current customers.
Here, in the US, the large companies seem to have other objectives. Comcast and Cox don't seem to be that interested in expansion really. And when I see unlimited, I think of unlimited! Not this lame "fake unlimited" crap I'm seeing now. Either clearly advertise the usage caps upfront along with the speeds and prices or make it truly unlimited.
And let me say, Cox's 30GB download cap is a joke. They advertise their broadband internet access as something someone who watches lots of streaming video content online would use. Do you know how easy it is to burn through 30GB if you download all that rich video content (not to mention those who are frequent porn viewers or those who play multi-player games that require a lot of bandwidth)?
Sad that the richest and largest economy in the world is still only barely out of the internet broadband stone-age. Even the reach of our dsl connections is sad; a large percentage of people in cities where dsl is available are still well over 11,000+ feet away from their CO (I'm 22,000 feet away and I live within the city, not on the outskirts).
I'm deeply saddenned - I mean, damn, it's 2004 already!
Merry Christmas.  | |
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See 15 replies to this post | |
| | They must stop this crap I wish this crap with Comcast would stop, and make the caps clear. I'm on a wireless connection on my cousin's house, which is in Sea Cliff. | |
| | | Slick Comcast BS | |
| |  dvd536as Mr. Pink as they comePremium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:4 | Re: Slick Comcast BS said by LoungeLizard2:
why don't we stop putting the weight of food on the boxes, that way whenever I need to squeeze a few more pennies from my stock options, I can simply decrease the amount of food in the box.
Potato chip manufacturers have been doing this for years. look at the amount of chips in a large bag. its 80% AIR. bags of ice are another. 10pound bags are nowhere to be found anymore, theyre 7 pounds now. a 30% price increase!. looked at flour or sugar lately? 4pound bags instead of 5. a 20% price increase! and coffee. NOBODY makes a pound can of coffee anymore. damn i sound like andy rooney hehe (no, i dont work for CBS either):)
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
| | | SBC ST
join:2003-08-05
Strongsville, OH | Re: Slick Comcast BS AMEN BROTHER! | |
| | |  mskittykatReality Bites...So I'm BackPremium
join:2002-10-17
Upper Marlboro, MD
kudos:1 | Damn Straight! "The air is their just to protect the chips from breaking"...My ass! Even pringles have a nice little gap at the top of their card board container...and they fear no crunching!...lol But seriously all of these companies take a little more everyday and negelect to tell you in hopes that you won't notice..and if you do they'll come up with some lame excuse to save themselves dollars.
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"Smart is knowing your ABC's. Intelligent is knowing how to use them." | |
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@nrockv01.md.comcast. | This is old... Instead of arguing over what Comcast should do, limitations of the system, etc. why don't we come up with another solution? Like a cap, but a minimum cap. Like Comcast says 'We promise not to send a letter to anyone using under X amount of bandwidth. If you use more, you may receive a warning if and only if it is affecting service for others or greatly affecting operational costs. Note that the amount of bandwidth you can use above X varies by your area due to the way in which cable broadband works. You will NOT receive a letter if you use less than X.'
Comcast isn't gonna abolish the caps entirely just 'cause there's bitching on this forum. Some people say they're only in it for the money. Well, duh. They're a company. They're here to make money. Not here to lose money because some people download way more than they could possibly ever need. What do you people do with that 90-120GB of stuff you download anyway? And I thought I downloaded a lot...most of the way through the month and I'm only at about 20GB downed...
I see that making Comcast set a national cap will make them limit it to the lowest node. I also see that being this vague about it isn't such a hot idea -- I for one like to stay away from purchases which are vague about details, but with Comcast I have no choice. No DSL available here and satellite is well...it's satellite. I certainly don't want to see a hard set national cap, but if they would give some number that they would guarantee your safety from these letters if you stayed under it, that would be GREAT. You would have this nice safe zone, but beyond that be as fuzzy as you want...
Or maybe Comcast shouldn't be handing out so much bandwidth they don't have. How would you all like to go back to the 1.5mbps caps? Huh? Is that what you want? I think Comcast sent the first round in preperation for the upgrade -- get them off before they cause major problems by sucking up the 3mbps. | |
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See 7 replies to this post | |
 Augustus IIIIf Only Rome Could See Us Now....
join:2001-01-25
Gainesville, GA | hmm PS: the technology is the same as it was in 99, 30 megs down 5 megs up cmts, 30 megs down only goes so far, thats the limit of cable! in other words are your trying to say that cable is obsolete and unable to provide for the increased customer base and bandwidth consumption? Surely you seem to be really hinting this in pretty much all posts so far. Or is that simply just comcast. | |
| | | yup Its nice too know what your paying for. Comcast should clearly define limits. The end user is STILL the customer, and people say the customer is always right. If comcast users dont like the caps they should take there money elsewhere. Plain and Simple. | |
| | | | Re: yup i feel the same way use use the word unlimited so loosely on there site be up front so ppl can decide most of us wont even tuch 30 gigs a month i realy think comcast should just make it clear when ya check out there packages as for bein a x comcast user thay filled up the node here where i live in ohio not splitting up nodes and have as many as 400+ users on 1 node lets keep it simple say what your saleing don't use words like unlimited unless ya meen it i now have dsl and its not as fast on the off peak but its more stable by far plus I'm paying 39.95 a month for 1.54 by 256 comcast now wants close to 70 bucks for there services and as for stable network lol i would be online for mabe 2 hours then id get kicked becuse the modem got kicked off it just got more and more unstable from what i can see thay have the cash to fix thangs and like some one sead in this thread thay will just lower there caps when thay see thay have to many ppl on there nodes your 92 gig is down to 45 then ...
its a fact of life here in the use the corp guys allways want to save money and that more easy look at DTV sueing old Laddy's that are 60+ years old that have never used are seen a dish i love this place but thats life here corp america ok I'm done id like see where this gose now | |
| | dvd536as Mr. Pink as they comePremium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:4 | said by mythology:
Its nice too know what your paying for. Comcast should clearly define limits. The end user is STILL the customer, and people say the customer is always right. If comcast users dont like the caps they should take there money elsewhere. Plain and Simple.
The customer hasnt been right for 20 years or more. its the stockholders that are important, the customer is just a 'necessary evil' thats required to make the stockholders happy.
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
| | | | | Re: yup said by dvd536:
The customer hasnt been right for 20 years or more. its the stockholders that are important, the customer is just a 'necessary evil' thats required to make the stockholders happy.
Nice work. In a sea of stupid comments, this one shines brightly as a smart one. Everyone talking about the power of the consumer like it is the be-all, end-all hasn't been in the US for the past 15 - 20 years. Stock prices drive everything and companies will do just about anything for a quick spike in stock price.
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Hey - there's this thing called spell check... | |
|
 sbrookPremium,Mod
join:2001-12-14
Ottawa
kudos:4
·TekSavvy Cable
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| Comcast - don't feel bad - Rogers is doing it too We're having the same fun with Rogers. Invisible, variable caps.
C: The advertising says Unlimited
R: That's correct sir, it is unlimited
C: Why are people being suspended for excess consumption?
R: Because they're using too much bandwidth
C: But you just said it's unlimited
R: That's correct, it is unlimited
C: Well, how much is too much bandwidth
R: We can't tell you how much is too much
C: Well how can I know how much I can download
R: Just cut down the amount you use
C: But you say it's unlimited ...
etc etc etc.
It seems that in general, people getting hit with suspension are those on nodes where people are complaining about performance problems, but when they call in, all they get is the run around like above. Rogers just seems to have a complete aversion to telling the whole story and be open and honest about it all. I suspect they're treating this as yet another dose of "The customer isn't knowledgable enough to understand" as they did when they cut our speeds in half 18 months ago! Guess what, we're not knowledgable enough to understand what you actually mean by unlimited when you do this to us! | |
| | | dishonest Its flat-out dishonest and yet another way to make a quick buck from the consumer. I dont see SBC having a problem with advertising and delivering what I pay for.
The 30gb cap that is being thrown around is BS: if the average user is only doing a few GB/m in web traffic he isn't suddenly going to start using 30/gb just because comcast announce this is the new cap.
And Matisaro - I dont know how you can support a company that uses such underhanded techniques but when comcast start these 30GB/m transfer limits I suggest you get DSL. | |
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See 6 replies to this post | |
Taranis
join:2001-12-06
Mount Vernon, WA | Find a solution.. I can understand the frustration with invisible caps, but only to a point.
I think each city and it's corresponding nodes probably do have saturation points. If one of those nodes has 98% of its users averaging 20-60GB/mo and one or two that use twice or even three times that much, it WILL degrade the quality of service on that node, and they should be warned to cut back. It's simply not good business sense to upgrade a node simply because a select few joe schmoes are addicted to streaming media, p2p or whatever.
Now that being said, I DON'T believe the customers should be cut off.
(1) Mail a warning letter and recommend in a professional manner that the user cut back, and give data to prove that they are indeed degrading the quality of service to others on their node.
(2) If that doesn't work, they get another warning letter, but instead of threatening a cut-off of service, simply state that the users will pay correspondingly more for the excessive amount of bandwidth they're using (ie "tiered").
Eventually, only a finite few things will happen. The customer will either (a) cut down on the bandwidth they're using to avoid a higher charge, or (b) find a different service. I think if the customer is well-informed, and the company is willing to work with these bandwidth-hogs to keep the quality of service as high as possible for all users, everyone will benefit. Comcast gets to keep a customer and everyone can get good speeds.
And get all this, explained very clearly, in the TOS. Give examples, if need be. Draw a picture. SOMETHING that will tell the average Joe User that unlimited does not mean "go wild".
Now, if the customer refuses to work with the ISP, saying "I want what I want and that's that", then they can either pay the higher price so eventually the node can be split, or be cut off.
If you abuse it, and you don't want to work to find a good faith solution, you deserve to be cut off, for your own selfishness and disregard for others, if anything else.
In summary, I think they have the right idea, but from a PR standpoint, they're going about it completely wrong.
My .02 | |
| | | | Re: Find a solution.. Why cant Comcast add a webpage that shows node usage. Maybe based on ip address so you see only your node. Then you would be able to see traffic, and you could also see your usage for the month, day , hour, whatever. Then they could average the use and give a graph so you could see where you are percentage wise.
If someone is using too much then throttle back their pipe, kind of a "time out" but give them hard numbers or access to the info. | |
| | | |
| | Here is what Comcast told me..... The method Comcast described to me was:
They take the bandwidth usage of the entire node and find an average per user, example given was say 20hrs, then if a single user is using 100% over that average say 40 hours then they would get a letter and I was told that they would get three letters before their service was cut off and that browsing and getting pictures via email are exempt from this total. I was also told that this was all handled out of their main office.
I received this information from tech support, all I had to do was call and ask.
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If Operating Systems Were Women? : »www.sigkill.com/os/ | |
| | | | Re: Here is what Comcast told me..... If you have received a letter my suggestion to you is:
Get your states attorney general and the media involved, in addition you may want to complain to whoever is responsible for renewing their contract with your city or county.
The attorney general in our state has already sued one ISP for such tactics and won, simple put unlimited is unlimited.
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If Operating Systems Were Women? : »www.sigkill.com/os/ | |
| | | | There must still be some limit defined here. Say you're in an area with only a few people on the node. Most use 1-2GB per month while one guy uses 10-15 per month. That is most certainly NOT abuse levels but this person would still face being cut off under this system.
Going back to my IDSL connection through Speakeasy is looking better and better. It may be slow, but they know how to treat their customers. | |
|
 richk_1957If ..Then..ElsePremium
join:2001-04-11
Minas Tirith | This is digusting I'll say it before & I'll say it again
I'm glad I don't have Comcast
Now, everyone has repeated that Comcast advertises 'Unlimited' service. Now unlimited is, no matter how you try to twist it around, well, unlimited - no restrictions! Now the only people who might have that sort of service is those who live in an area where there aren't many people on that node
This is what one person posted that Comcast told him
"They take the bandwidth usage of the entire node and find an average per user, example given was say 20hrs, then if a single user is using 100% over that average say 40 hours then they would get a letter and I was told that they would get three letters before their service was cut off and that browsing and getting pictures via email are exempt from this total. I was also told that this was all handled out of their main office."
Now, if their network can't handle the load, it sounds like a hardware problem on THEIR end [but they want to make more money, so they keep (over)populating the nodes]
And, their TOS doesn't even come close to spelling out what might be the limit
"Any user in Comcast sole judgement who causes an undue burden on the network can be terminated!"
By that statement, they are setting themselves up as the judge & the jury - which means they can do what they want if they think it warrants it
Since they Publicly advertise Unlimited, but obviously can't produce it, someone should take them to court for False Advertising
This probably won't happen, because that takes time & $$$, which Comcast has in abundance, but most people don't:(
And for people who say 'If you don't like it, find someone else'. Well, that might be true, but listen - again that takes time and money and you usually expect to get what is advertised and you have taken the time for the install, etc. So you can change, but time-wise, you might not [or it might be very difficult] have that option. And I don't know how Comcast works, but if you are stuck with a contract, you have to shell out $$$ to get out of that. | |
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1 edit | The unpopular summary no one wants to hear If Comcast came out with caps (I mean, official, in writing, stated clearly, not invisible) right NOW, I mean today, yesterday, last week... it would create a big mess. Let me explain.
If right now, today, Comcast came out with "in writing" caps, it would stand to reason that those caps would not be very much different from the other cable companies. Why would Comcast offer 150 gigabytes download if Cox is only offering 50 on their premium plan? They wouldn't. My theory is that Comcast is working their way down, starting with the heaviest users, moving down to the less heavier users, and when they are comfortable that they have the situation stabilized, they will come out with "in writing" caps that are comparable to their competitors' caps.
The other thing, which many people have pointed out, is that ISPs lose money on their heavy users. It has, up to this point, in America, been "unlimited data transfer" as the norm, rather than the exception. As we move forward in time, ISPs will start focusing on becoming profitable, and not place such a huge emphasis on gaining market share. The reason there have not been caps up to this point for most US Broadband ISPs is because the ISPs are more interested in gaining market share than they are in turning a profit. But eventually, once they are happy with their market share, they will take steps to make sure that they are not losing money on any particular customer.
Another interesting point someone else brought up is that it raises everyone's cable bill if Comcast has to build a network infrastructure to support large amounts of data transfer. Most of us are simply interested in having an always on, no-need-to-dial-up-and- tie-up-the-phone-line connection, not downloading binaries from Usenet. Not that there is anything wrong with downloading binaries from Usenet, but if that's the primary reason you have broadband, and you download lots of binaries from Usenet, or, for instance, if you are an avid Bit Torrent fan, you need to realize that Comcast is losing money on you as a customer before you start to moan and complain.
I think that Comcast WILL, much to everyone's relief, come out with "in writing" caps, once they "clean out" the riff-raff and get rid of the extremely heavy users.
That's my theory. A little patience, a little prodding, and you will have your caps. Meanwhile, it's not that hard to figure out what those caps are going to be if/when Comcast ever puts them in writing. Take a look at their competition's caps. | |
| | Reviews:
·MSN
·Brand X Internet
·DSL EXTREME
1 edit | Why? The simple fact is this: Americans pay the highest prices per meg for bandwidth of all the industrialized countries.
DSL in America averages 35 bucks a month for 1500/256 (or worse, 1500/128 like Verizon gives me) service. Ask the people in Canada what THEY pay for DSL! It's about 2/3 of this for 2500/768 service (in Canadian $$ no less, which average 70% of American dollars).
Cable TV and Internet are the worst offenders. The simple fact is this: over the past five years, cable TV rates have gone up by about 50%. This is happening in a situation where their costs to provide the service they overcharge for has gone DOWN!. These days instead of having to maintain five head ends for five cities, they now only have to maintain one. The simple fact is this: the cable TV industry employs less persons now then they did 15 years ago! Also, even as the costs for bandwidth have gone down, cable rates for internet have gone UP at the same time that speeds have gone down.
Why is this happening? One word: GREED! Cable TV is very consolidated these days, much more so then just about any other monopoly. Problem is, cable is hardly regulated compared to electric, telephone, etc. Companies grossly overpaid and over borrowed to make the monopolies they now own and now they gouge the consumer to pay off their loans. They oversubscribe nodes. They lie about limits, and yes, they cut people off unethically (if the phone, gas or electric company pulled what Comcast and others routinely does, they'd be fined millions of dollars!).
Cable TV companies are so bad that they actually are the most hated utility of all these days. They replaced the telephone company for this dubious honor years ago.
Those here who defend the cable TV companies for their reprehensible behavior do not help anything; indeed you only add to the problem.
Finally, two months ago my friend unceremoniously dumped cable at his house for satellite. The cable rep was all po'ed about it and complained to him. His response was: "I'm the customer. I can buy a better product then you offer for 2/3 of the price you charge. And you're yelling at me?". Point is, as long as cable continues the attitude they seem to have, they're just going to keep losing customers. | |
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