jlivingood
Premium,VIP
join:2007-10-28
Philadelphia, PA
| reply to hobgoblin
Re: The Comcast Newsgroups Service Discontinued
said by hobgoblin  :"That too, Axel apparently thinks Comcast is going to be blocking access to newsgroups... WRONG! Pay, free... no prob! Get whatever NG you want and have at it!" Free Anchovies? Hob Correct. Just to confirm (and for the avoidance of doubt), NNTP / usenet newsgroup access is in no way blocked. Even after our news service is discountinued, customers can still access the NNTP provider of their choice.
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JL
Comcast |
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beerbum
Premium
join:2000-05-06
Reading, PA
clubs:
| reply to NormanS
said by NormanS :said by beerbum :You know what is really sad? The actual costs involved to run usenet - minus the binary groups - are minimal.. A couple quad core computers and one or two TB for storage could handle it - with a greater than 30 day retention - again, minus the binary groups. Then what happened to all of the free NNTP providers? Why did Supernews sell out to Giganews? binaries.. all the warez, porn, videos, music.. all that shit is what killed / is killing usenet.. here.. some stats you may find interesting..
that snapshot is showing that 25 newsgroups account for 2,160 MB.. or 2.1 gigabytes per day.. this is only a small handful of groups..
notice they are all binary newsgroups.. I don't have stats for non-binary groups handy (yet) but I doubt if you add up traffic on all the non binary groups the total would still be less than group #25 above..
as of now, the daily total traffic on usenet is in the neighborhood of 14-17 gig per day.. filter out the binaries and most of us here have hardware that could handle the traffic.. |
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kadar
Premium,ExMod 2001-02
join:0000-00-00
| reply to dadkins
said by dadkins :Comcast was giving you *2GB* for each month. They are no longer going to give you 2GB per month. Does this mean my Cap will increase by 2GB ?
 
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The Revolutionary War was fought over a 14% tax, what % are you paying now? |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
 ·Comcast
| reply to axelrose
said by axelrose :said by dadkins :said by beerbum :why pay when there are some decent free servers out there..? That too, Axel apparently thinks Comcast is going to be blocking access to newsgroups... WRONG! No, I think Comcast has just removed the 2GB Usenet service they offered via Giganews. I'm aware of the fact that Usenet still exists and am aware that you can purchase a Giganews account separate from Comcast's previous offering. I should know because I've had a Giganews account for 3 years. But it was nice having that extra 2GB so you could save 2GB use on the private Giganews account. You need to work on your communication skills then:
said by axelrose :Sorry but I care a great deal that comcast is ending Usenet access. I use Newsgroups a lot. So my concerns are valid. ... and nowhere else in this thread have you stated you have a full-on account.
My Crystal Ball is still in the shop(back ordered parts or something) so I could not see this information.
One more time - It was free, not enough of the 14.4million HSI customers were using it, it was severely limited, Comcast is trashing it.
You will not be getting a discounted monthly bill because you were never actually charged in the first place.
Since you now state have an actual account... this is getting silly friend. 
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Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD
clubs:
·Comcast
| reply to axelrose
It's controversial because *some* customers were using the service. The ungreased wheel squeaks the loudest. The question, however, begs: of the customers that use the newsgroups, how many either have CHSI Blast or are in areas where Blast is available, yet don't have that level of service? (I'm asking because my own use of the service declined as my speed went up (from 6000/384k to 8000/769k (original Performance Plus) to 8/1 (Performance Plus Mark II) to 16/2 (Blast); I don't use the Giganews nwsgroups *at all* today, and haven't for six months.) |
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gate1975mlm
Premium
join:2001-09-30
Philadelphia, PA | reply to hobgoblin
So what are the best FREE NNTP providers? |
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lilhurricane
Crunchin' For Cures
Premium,Mod
join:2003-01-11
Purple Zone
clubs: | Some alternatives are listed here:
»What's Your Favorite Newsgroup Provider? |
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rb00
join:2008-09-18
Houston, TX
| reply to dadkins
said by dadkins :One more time - It was free.... You keep saying that, but it does not hold true for all current Comcast customers.
TimeWarner was my original provider and they had included the NewsGroup service since day one of my service, this was back in 1999. When Comcast took over TimeWarner last year, we still have NewsGroup with no limit. They implemented the 2GB limit back in April/May of this year. Now that they are eliminating it, you can not tell customers like me that I am not losing something. Nor can you say that I was getting Newsgroup for free, it was part of the original package.
As for Comcast customers who just signed up in the last 3 or 4 years (after Comcast had added Newsgroup), you can't tell them that they were getting Newsgroup free either because that was part of the original package they were sold.
I signed up with Megabitz after they implemented the 2GB rule because I do go over that limit. I do have friends that do not use that much download that will now have to result in purchasing a premium newsgroup provider, try telling them that they are not losing something.
This does not affect me because I do have a premium newsgroup provider (and my budget allows it), but I can understand why others are upset. Who wants to part with $5 to $10 a month that they didn't have to previously. It's not a price increase on the Comcast bill, but it is money out of the customers' pocket to maintain the same amount of service.
Just because it does not affect you, it doesn't mean it doesn't affect others. Please stop saying it was free, that doesn't apply to everyone. |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
1 edit | said by rb00 :TimeWarner was my original provider ... Stop right there friend!
It doesn't matter what was being offered to you by TW, you are now on Comcast and many things have changed for you.
Reality is, this is Comcast and this is Comcast's network.
They can change or remove anything they wish at any time.
»www.comcast.net/terms/subscriber/
"4. Changes To Services
Subject to applicable law, we have the right to change our Services, Comcast Equipment and rates or charges, at any time with or without notice. We also may rearrange, delete, add to or otherwise change programming or features or offerings contained in the Services, including but not limited to, content, functionality, hours of availability, customer equipment requirements, speed and upstream and downstream rate limitations. If we do give you notice, it may be provided on your monthly bill, as a bill insert, in a newspaper or other communication permitted under applicable law. If you find a change in the Service(s) unacceptable, you have the right to cancel your Service(s). However, if you continue to receive Service(s) after the change, this will constitute your acceptance of the change. Please take the time to read any notices of changes to the Service(s). We are not liable for failure to deliver any programming, services, CHANGES TO SERVICESfeatures or offerings except as provided in Section 11e. "
Reality bites sometimes.
Maybe since you are now a Comcast customer, you should read the AUP and TOS in it's entirety.
Might enlighten you to a few things.
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Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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rb00
join:2008-09-18
Houston, TX
| said by dadkins :Reality is, this is Comcast and this is Comcast's network. They can change or remove anything they wish at any time... Maybe since you are now a Comcast customer, you should read the AUP and TOS in it's entirety. Might enlighten you to a few things. Who is arguing that they can't change what they provide?
What people have been complaining about in this thread is that they are losing something (no Newsgroup), but you and a few others maintain that they are losing nothing.
If you would get off your high horse and really listen to what others are complaining about, you may learn that others are not in the same situation (can't afford or don't like to pay extra money for a Newsgroup service) as you and I (fortunately), so they DO lose something.
I get it, it's not a big deal for the people who already subscribe to a News service, but do understand for others who don't want to pay extra. |
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
 ·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to beerbum
said by beerbum :as of now, the daily total traffic on usenet is in the neighborhood of 14-17 gig per day.. filter out the binaries and most of us here have hardware that could handle the traffic.. Most of you there don't have an Internet connection that can handle the traffic. You'd have to pay for hosting with the likes of Sprint, LimeLight Networks, NAC, et. al., to carry your traffic. Hosting isn't free; and, when your traffic exceeds the bandwidth you paid for, you are offline until the end of the billing cycle; unless you want to fork over extra $$$.
However, you are pointing out why Comcast *could* have followed AT&T. It just happens that AT&T only stopped carrying the binary groups; mostly the 'alt.binaries.*' hierarchy. Not the first time that Comcast has taken a different tack than they could have.
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Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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jbob
Reach Out and Touch Someone
Premium
join:2004-04-26
Little Rock, AR
·Comcast
·AT&T Southwest
| reply to comcastcares
Saw this posted today on the USENET group "alt.online-service.comcast" Note: this is not an official Comcast newsgroup.
quote:
I learned, yesterday, that Comcast will stop providing Usenet
(outsourced to Giganews) to existing subscribers October 25, and that
it's already ceased offering Usenet access to those new to Usenet
September 16. I don't read this newsgroup very often; oh well.
I called the Comcast sales telephone number and spoke to a salesman in
the customer retention group. This is the area your call gets routed to
if you select "discontinue service". I told her Usenet was worth $5 a
month to me. She gave me a credit for the next year. I told her to
specifically note that I requested the credit for loss of Usenet
service.
Everyone should do the same.
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funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC | That's pretty cool, actually. I hope it remains true. |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
1 edit | reply to rb00
You started your post off with Time Warner - well, SURPRISE!
THIS is Comcast!
What you had with TW is a memory friend - get used to it.
All Comcast ever offered - at no additional cost - was 1GB and then 2GB per month of NG access.
Our bills never went up.
So, now with the provided NG service going away - no reduction in our bill.
No, wrong friend.
You and me and everyone else is losing out on 2GB per month filtered newsgroup access.
So, when someone comes here whining about wanting a discount on their monthly bill - they can wish all they want, it aint gonna happen!
2GB of newsgroup is pretty much nothing.
Anyone who is thinking they are losing something substantial needs to wake up.
WTF can you get from a newsgroup @ 2GB per month?
That's not even worth while to light up a reader.
I don't use newsgroups, this free 2GB POS that Comcast offered OR a paid service. No need! I have access to... well, never mind.
Now, anything else?
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Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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WhahWhahWhah
@comcast.net
 from:
dadkins
| reply to comcastcares
Usenet was a ***FREE*** addition to the HSI package so Comcast is not under any obligation to provide it free for eternity.
It should be noted that 3 years ago my speeds were 4Mb down and 384Kb up. Today, for the same money, I get 16Mb down and 2 Mb up. I suspect most everyone has seen similar speed increases. Did anyone whine about that?
Seems like all people do today is whine whine whine! |
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funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
 ·Skype
| said by WhahWhahWhah :
Usenet was a ***FREE*** addition to the HSI package so Comcast is not under any obligation to provide it free for eternity.
Could be that the connectivity was free and we've been paying $50 a month for usenet. You don't get to pick what part of a package was free and what part was not, especially since Comcast enjoys relaxed regulation as an "Information Service" and not as a "Common Carrier."
--
Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- Hillsboro, Oregon
More features, more fun, Join BroadbandReports.com, it's free...
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sheiker
join:2006-12-05
Prior Lake, MN
| reply to beerbum
Are you sure you have those stats right?
They seem an order of magnitude "low"...
Just guessing here, but I believe those groups you list are probably pumping 200 G's a day when added together.
Which is why a lot of ISPs dropped the binary groups a long time ago, or have a 1-2 day retention... There is simply too much data on those groups except for the dedicated Usenet companies. |
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Greg2600
join:2008-05-20
Belleville, NJ
| reply to comcastcares
Many are missing the larger point. That is that Comcast's service, particularly HSI and DCTV, were at one time at the top of what providers' offered. Since that point, IMO FIOS and possibly DirecTV or Dish have more to offer. About all Comcast has over them these days is the size of its On Demand library (for how long?). I use USENET here and there, and it was a very nice addition to the service. So now HSI is much slower than FIOS, at the same price, and without USENET (FIOS dropped it too). Which is the better product? I'm not going to claim the loss of free USENET is the end of the world, but it was one of the few things CC has that the others didn't. Not anymore. |
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rb00
join:2008-09-18
Houston, TX
| reply to dadkins
said by dadkins : I already stated that for the people who had signed on with Comcast (
when Newsgroup is part of the package) and now suddenly lose it, they are losing something.
Who cares if the customers come from TimeWarner or not, at the time of turnover to Comcast, the customers still had Newsgroup access, this is taken away from them AFTER the turnover.
Here is an example for you, Bank A is your mortgage company and provides you with auto-draft, now Finance company B takes over and continue to offer auto-draft for another year and suddenly says that people will need to start mailing in their payments. You don't think the people who's been using auto-draft is losing something? Oh right, only 10% of people is losing it, so they shouldn't "whine", since it was free. 
2GB may not be much to you, but it is enough for others, so it does make a difference. Not everyone access/need the same amount as you.
As far as you mentioning about "good luck getting credit", according to jbob's post, someone has attempted it and succeeded.
Again, it's not a big deal for me because I do use another Newsgroup provider, but have sympathy for others who has to make this change/adjustment.
My whole point is customers are losing something, your point is that they are not (which is something you keep repeating).
If you still don't agree, well we'll just have to agree to disagree and move on.  |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
1 edit | YOU tried to say that you still had TW unlimited NG access after the switch over - I explained that since you are now on Comcast, things are different.
Comcast has never had unlimited NG regardless of what you had on TW, it's gone now that you are on Comcast! Sorry!
Here is some reality for you - no ammount of complaining by you or anyone else will change what Comcast is going to do.
If you actually thought at any time 2GB of NG access was a value *OR* something they added onto your bill, well... you were wrong!
2GB of any NG service is a waste of time - period!
You were not "reading news" and everyone knows it!
So, 2GB of actual NG use is - not enough to do anything.
I have agreed(re-read this post):
»Re: The Comcast Newsgroups Service Discontinued
Specifically this line:
"You and me and everyone else is losing out on 2GB per month filtered newsgroup access."
No one is going to be getting a reduction on their monthly bill - not you, not me, not anyone!
There are FREE Newsgroups out there, quit the complaining and try one - try a couple of them!
Here, I Googled it for you!
»www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&q···wsgroups
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Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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