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Comcast's Faster Speeds Have Many Users....Downgrading?
Users are saving $10 and dropping down to company's slowest (12Mbps) tier...

A few weeks ago Comcast unveiled some new speed tiers for markets that are being upgraded to DOCSIS 3.0. Comcast not only doubled existing speed tiers ("Performance" 6Mbps/1Mbps and "Performance Plus" 8Mbps/2Mbps tiers became 12Mbps/2Mbps and 16Mbps/2Mbps), but adding two new tiers to the mix ("Ultra" 22Mbps/5Mbps and "Extreme 50" 50Mbps/10Mbps). 20% of Comcast markets should see the new speeds by the end of this year, while all markets will be upgraded by the end of 2010.

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One recurring theme we've seen in our forums is that the new speeds have many users actually downgrading service. In both forum threads and polls, many customers on Comcast's 16Mbps/2Mbps tier say they're downgrading to their 12Mbps/2Mbps tier -- apparently because they don't think an additional 4Mbps downstream is worth $10. Customers used to be willing to pay the additional $10 for double the upstream speed, but there's no longer an upstream difference between the tiers.

Given we can't see Comcast's internal numbers, it's hard to tell if more customers are dropping down to Comcast's base tier, or springing for Comcast's new 22Mbps/5Mbps tier and a new DOC 3.0 modem. Given the economic climate, the former is likely. Is Comcast intentionally trying to drive people off of the 16Mbps/2Mbps tier, or did they simply make a marketing mistake? What's more appealing to you folks: 12Mbps/2Mbps for $42.95, 16Mbps/2Mbps for $52.95, 22Mbps/5Mbps for $62.95, or 50Mbps/10Mbps for $139.95?