Broadband Reports is saying that they’ve confirmed through several sources that Comcast is going to be instituting a 250GB cap on their high speed internet.
Sources tell me that Comcast will officially announce that they’re implementing this new system starting October first.
Originally, the source indicated Comcast was considering charging $15 for each 10 GB over the cap customers travel. A press release should drop shortly confirming whether this is still the case. There was also consideration of a new system whereby users who received more than four DMCA letters in a twelve month period potentially faced account suspension. That’s a risky move I would imagine won’t make the final cut.
“The intent appears to be to go after the people who consistently download far more than the typical user without hurting those who may have a really big month infrequently,” says an insider familiar with the project, who prefers to remain anonymous. “As far as I am aware, uploads are not affected, at least not initially.” According to this source, the new system should only impact some 14,000 customers out of Comcast’s 14.1 million users (i.e. the top 0.1%).
The move comes in response to the FCC’s ruling that Comcast’s “network management” techniques were very, very uncool.
What do you think? This “invisible cap” has already been around for awhile, is admitting to it a step in the right direction for Comcast? Or not?
Comcast 250GB Cap Goes Live October 1 [Broadband Reports]
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Good God Almighty I hate Comcast. Due to some stock splits I ended up with both AT&T and Comcast stock. I sold both because I got tired of having anything to do with companies that apparently hate me. However, in Seattle, I’m stuck with Comcast, unless I want much slower DSL.
Comcast works great – when it works. Every random outage is a problem with my modem (but it’s never a problem with my modem.) Between random outages, poor service, and now usage caps I hate ‘em more every day.
Good God I hate Comcast. I guess when your country is run by, and for, corporations, your best hope is to be bent over a comfortable barrel.
Upload and Download or Download only?
If it’s both counted… well… uh-oh.
# August 2008 (Incoming: 154953 MB / Outgoing: 70142 MB)
And believe it or not, I haven’t run a single torrent this month. Comcast is already excercising their shaping though on all forms of traffic. Apparently, “near DSL speeds” knock your download speed to 2mbits.
Wow, people complaining about 250gigs? Dont EVER move to Canada. Most here are 60gigs on their HIGH END ones. Bell has 60 gigs on their 16meg fios service.
When I moved to San Francisco my past readership of the Consumerist saved me the miserable fate that would have awaited me as a Comscat subscriber. Instead I went with a local cheap DSL provider (DSL Extreme)
Since then I have repeated a clever acronym: JARNT BACS
Just Another Reason Not To Be A Comcast Subscriber
I’d rather go back to dialup than ever be their customer. If it’s any indication of how much I think Comscat stinks then keep in mind I am an AT&T customer.
ok you people are confusing yourselves and are confusing me
b = bit
B = byte
1 byte = 8 bits
the comcast cap is 250GB which is gigabytes which is 2000gB
at a 5/Gb connection downloading constantly it would still take about 10-15 DAYS of constant downloading to hit this limit. (with utilization at 100%)
for all you gamers, games send very very little data (your talking about 70~80bits per packet per second) which to hit your limit on gaming you would have to play for about 7456540 hours….or 310689days….in other words, gaming makes little to no impact on your data limit (unless you factor in download able content…but a few megs and some KB on images…nah…)
250gigs is a lot for an average user
however HD content is the new thing…even if people don’t really understand the logistics of it and just want those 2 letters next to things (just like how people loved the word DIGITAL in the late 80s early 90s)
if you want more bandwidth, pay for a business account and don’t make others suffer due to your net habits.’
if you want the internet backbone increased so you can continue your habits and not affect others, write a letter to congress.
I wonder how this will work around campus with students. Most places here have 3-5 people sharing one account. Sure will rack up points with everyone watching so much youtube.
There is a reason for this, and it’s due to my home state.
WMBB article.