 jlivingoodPremium,VIP
join:2007-10-28
Philadelphia, PA
kudos:1
1 edit | Hmmm.... Karl wrote: Comcast recently unveiled their new meter in Portland, using a firm of their choice to determine it's accuracy. The firm they hired, of course, proclaimed proudly that the meter was accurate to within 0.5% each month.
Who'll confirm this? Nobody. While I can understand the generalities of your story*, the specific ding against how Comcast released the meter seems unjustified. In an environment where an ISP could simply release a meter, it seems an objectively good thing that we used an independent party to audit the meter, that we had them share a report on the matter, and that they fully described how the system functioned and how they tested it.
If you question their independence or background, which I think is unfounded, you can find out who they are here:
»netforecast.com/ContactInfoFrameset.htm
Scott Bradner - »netforecast.com/biography%20Scot···r%20.htm
Rebecca Wetzel - »netforecast.com/biography%20Rebe···l%20.htm
John Bartlett - »netforecast.com/biography%20John···lett.htm
Peter Sevcik - »netforecast.com/biography%20Peter%20S.htm
You can see their client list here:
»netforecast.com/ClientFrameset.htm
And I can tell you they were highly recommended by members of the Internet community.
Jason
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JL
Comcast
* I think it is completely fair to ask how you can stand behind a meter and is it accurate. And for that reason, I think the basics of your story prompt a worthwhile discussion. When we planned the meter, I thought that it'd be the case that the question of proving its accuracy would logically be raised and so I suggested having a 3rd party audit it and - further - share the results of that with our customers and the public. |
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nishiko7Premium
join:2007-05-01
Pleasant Hill, CA | @jlivingood
Thanks for the input. It appears perhaps Comcast is taking it very seriously and is trying to be fair about it, and if so, that's much appreciated by all their customers no doubt. |
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 VanPremium
join:2009-07-08
New Orleans, LA | reply to jlivingood
said by jlivingood:Karl wrote: Comcast recently unveiled their new meter in Portland, using a firm of their choice to determine it's accuracy. The firm they hired, of course, proclaimed proudly that the meter was accurate to within 0.5% each month.
Who'll confirm this? Nobody. While I can understand the generalities of your story*, the specific ding against how Comcast released the meter seems unjustified. In an environment where an ISP could simply release a meter, it seems an objectively good thing that we used an independent party to audit the meter, that we had them share a report on the matter, and that they fully described how the system functioned and how they tested it. If you question their independence or background, which I think is unfounded, you can find out who they are here: » netforecast.com/ContactInfoFrameset.htmScott Bradner - » netforecast.com/biography%20Scot···r%20.htmRebecca Wetzel - » netforecast.com/biography%20Rebe···l%20.htmJohn Bartlett - » netforecast.com/biography%20John···lett.htmPeter Sevcik - » netforecast.com/biography%20Peter%20S.htmYou can see their client list here: » netforecast.com/ClientFrameset.htmAnd I can tell you they were highly recommended by members of the Internet community. Jason --
JL
Comcast* I think it is completely fair to ask how you can stand behind a meter and is it accurate. And for that reason, I think the basics of your story prompt a worthwhile discussion. When we planned the meter, I thought that it'd be the case that the question of proving its accuracy would logically be raised and so I suggested having a 3rd party audit it and - further - share the results of that with our customers and the public. But with Comcast admitting +- 5%....what recourse will Comcast users have if they are told they went over and they did not due to error? |
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jlivingoodPremium,VIP
join:2007-10-28
Philadelphia, PA
kudos:1 | said by Van:But with Comcast admitting +- 5%....what recourse will Comcast users have if they are told they went over and they did not due to error? You are moving a decimal point. It was +/- 0.5% with is one half of one percent. (Our design goal was within +/- 1.0%. If it were +/- 5%, that would not have met success criteria for the meter.)
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JL
Comcast |
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Reviews:
 ·Comcast
 ·AT&T Southeast
| reply to jlivingood
Comcast is going to launch an online backup filespace...now let's say I use said backup filespace on a nightly basis. Here's the scorecard:
1. I use the backup service and it counts against my cap.
2. The service I am either a) getting as part of the package or b) actually paying for.
Why do you guys roll out a service yet if we actually use it it counts against our cap. That makes no sense.
What if some asshat from another network decides to continuously ping my router with 1K byte packets, will that count against my cap?
Now let's look at the Comcast website, what can I do with my connection:
* Watch streaming HD movies online.
* Dominate games with less lag.
* Download music and upload photos in the blink of an eye with PowerBoost.
* Get blazing fast connections—even with the whole family online at the same time.
Let's see, streaming HD movies... that's a lot of data. Downloading music, that could be another busy one. So here you are telling me to use it... but if I actually use it like I could I'm a bad guy.
Now let's look at the SmartZone Communications Center:
Welcome to an amazing fusion of e-mail, Comcast Digital Voice® messages, and your Universal Address Book in one convenient place—with access from any Internet connection.
* Listen to your voice mail from your PC and in any order. Even forward messages to others by e-mail.
Here is another service being touted... that goes against my cap. Why? Again, if you don't want folks to use it don't offer the service.
But wait.... there's more!
Comcast.net: your gateway to a world of online entertainment
* Enjoy full access to Comcast.net, where you can share photos, listen to your favorite music, shop, and play games.
* Check TV listings and access over 130,000 news and entertainment videos from Fox Sports, E!, and more.
So again, I use something Comcast is touting and providing.. I'm the bad guy.
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 maartenaElmoPremium
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA
kudos:1
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·DIRECTV
| reply to jlivingood
said by jlivingood:said by Van:But with Comcast admitting +- 5%....what recourse will Comcast users have if they are told they went over and they did not due to error? You are moving a decimal point. It was +/- 0.5% with is one half of one percent. (Our design goal was within +/- 1.0%. If it were +/- 5%, that would not have met success criteria for the meter.) Here's another question.
We all know one is responsible for their own PC's. If one gets infected and starts pumping out any kind of data, you as the customer are responsible, just like if you would have a faulty fridge that starts eating up 10x the electricity at some point.
But it is very easy these days, and we have seen this over and over with big websites, to "overload" one's IP address with heaps and heaps of data. And although all of those packets may be refused by the local router/firewall on site, they have passed the modem.
Does Comcast's meter, or any meter for that matter, protect you from some one that has control over a botnet, just doesn't like you after you.... say killed his ass 20x on his game server, and decides to "take you out" by bombarding you with packets, in other words a DDoS.
Now this is a relatively unlikely event of course, but does an ISP protect against data you did not ask for?
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"I reject your reality and substitute my own!" |
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| reply to jlivingood
* I think it is completely fair to ask how you can stand behind a meter and is it accurate. And for that reason, I think the basics of your story prompt a worthwhile discussion. When we planned the meter, I thought that it'd be the case that the question of proving its accuracy would logically be raised and so I suggested having a 3rd party audit it and - further - share the results of that with our customers and the public. |
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| reply to jlivingood
Now, all you have to do is get us to trust you... |
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jlivingoodPremium,VIP
join:2007-10-28
Philadelphia, PA
kudos:1 | reply to maartena
said by maartena:Now this is a relatively unlikely event of course, but does an ISP protect against data you did not ask for? You should have a firewall or NAT/router that does that. We also watch the network for DDoS and similar attacks, to try to mitigate them.
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JL
Comcast |
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jlivingoodPremium,VIP
join:2007-10-28
Philadelphia, PA
kudos:1 | reply to onyxmicro
said by onyxmicro:Now, all you have to do is get us to trust you... Well, you could also read the Net Forecast report.
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JL
Comcast |
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| reply to NOCTech75
Hey jlivingood,
NOCTech75 has some good points. Care to take a stab at them?
Not trying to be a jerk, I am actually interested in your reply. |
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| reply to jlivingood
Aside from meter accuracy, what are the ISP going to do to prevent all of the miscellaneous downloads that were not specifically requested, such as ads and as suggested by others, malicious attacks, machines controlled by botnets, etc. It would seem that if they are going to try to bill on a usage basis, they would then be responsible to deliver only what was actually requested. |
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