Add Cox Communications to a long list of ISPs whose usage meters don't appear to be entirely accurate. Our users have recently been complaining in our forums that the company's online usage meter falsely reports usage (both over and under estimates). That's when it's even available; many users have reported the meter only seems to work intermittently.

Omaha ABC affiliate KETV notes that a large number of users in the area were recently told they were consuming too much bandwidth and needed to upgrade their broadband plans. After an investigation, KETV found the notices were sent in error:

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A Cox Communications customer said he received warnings he was using too much Internet data and that he should upgrade his allotment of gigabytes. After a thorough investigation, KETV NewsWatch 7 learned it was a company error. A Council Bluffs man contacted 7 Can Help after Cox Communications told him he had used nearly 600 gigabytes of data in one month. For months, Chris Bond wondered why the numbers didn't add up.

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A few years ago Cox Communications clarified that the company imposes what they call "soft" usage caps, which may or may not be enforced depending on the market (see Cox website). Most cable operators are interested in imposing metered billing, but remain wary of the backlash seen by Time Warner Cable back in 2009. As such they're proceeding glacially; usually beginning with a usage meter aimed at "educating" consumers about their usage.

However, there have been countless incidents over the last few years across North America where ISPs haven't been able to meter customers accurately, resulting in users being socked with thousands of dollars in inaccurate overage fees, or being charged for usage even when their power was out or the modem was off. Regulators (both here and in Canada) have repeatedly shown absolutely no interest in working to ensure that usage is measured accurately.