Topic: Comcast clamping down on "excessive" downloaders

[netmasta]

http://arstechnica.com/news/posts/1064253517.html

  Comcast clamping down on "excessive" downloaders

Posted 09/22/2003 @ 12:58 PM
by Eric Bangeman

It's one thing to use more than your allotted bandwidth. It is another, entirely-different thing to not know what your allotment is. Comcast has warned one of its subscribers that his bandwidth usage was excessive, while refusing to inform him how much he is allowed.

    Keith, who asked to keep his full name private, said he'd subscribed to the service for four years and never had a complaint before. Now he was being labeled a network "abuser."

    Worse, he said, Comcast refused to tell him how much downloading was allowed under his contract. A customer service representative had told him there was no specific cap, he said, adding that he might avoid being suspended if he cut his bandwidth usage in half. But even then, the lack of a hard number gave Keith no guarantee.

While Comcast's concerns about excessive bandwidth usage may be justified, not communicating to their subscribers what constitutes excessive usage is not. ISPs are taking differing approaches to capping usage, with some such as Cox opting for clearly-defined download limits, and others are being more nebulous.

    Comcast's policy has proven most controversial. The company's terms of service say only that users cannot "represent (in the sole judgment of Comcast) an unusually large burden on the network." According to a spokeswoman, the company began sending notes about two months ago to the top 1 percent of the heaviest users--people who collectively use about 28 percent of the company's bandwidth--telling them they were violating their terms of service.

    [Comcast spokeswoman Sarah] Eder said there was no specific line crossed by these subscribers, but she added that some of those people were downloading the equivalent of 90 movies in a given month.

Broadband ISPs all over the U.S. are in a dogfight for market share, and bandwidth (along with price) is a key element of the broadband value proposition. Thus -- at least for cable ISPs in which customers share bandwidth with others in their immediate areas -- some regulation of bandwidth usage may be necessary until DOCSIS 2.0 is widely implemented.

Two tough questions remain: will video-on-demand and other future broadband-dependent applications be able to grow to their full potential if downloading is capped by the ISP? Also, what is the best way for the ISPs who choose to implement caps when their competitors (e.g., U.S. DSL providers) do not cap usage? Comcast needs better answers.

[☻ ◦§1 ☺]

Thats werid. As far as iv heard, Comcast has lightened up on that policy since '03 . Good thing too or they would have been out alot of customers

[netmasta]

What doesn't make sense is that thier telling people to cut back on thier bandwidth usage, yet they won't tell you how much you can use in 1 month.    I've looked in the TOS and all it says is they will suspend your account for "excessive bandwidth use". 

[Lantom]

I'm sure I'm missing something,  but this was a 2003 letter so whats happening in 2005?   Most TOS's include some excessive use verbage as a way to insure they can suspend true abusers.  It's sort of an at will clause taht allows them to reach out and touch you if your  a bad boy.

Lantom

[netmasta]

I didn't even notice the date on it    I was searching for Comcast speed upgrades on Yahoo! news  when I found it.

[jim2006]

   What does this mean  (e.g., U.S. DSL providers) does that mean dsl is not capped becuase I run servers download alot and I have sbc dsl pro and I have never had a problem or even them worn me!!!!!!!!! So I am curious what my cap is if I have one!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Microwave]

What doesn't make sense is that thier telling people to cut back on thier bandwidth usage, yet they won't tell you how much you can use in 1 month.    I've looked in the TOS and all it says is they will suspend your account for "excessive bandwidth use". 

   Yeah this seems like a typical scare tactic to get ppl to use less even though they don't know how much less they should use. A couple of years ago I was using a very large amount of bandwidth for about 45 days, I did get a nasty gram from my ISP reminding me of the rules, but there were no implied threats of closing my account or anything just a "friendly" reminder, and in fairness I thought they were pretty cool about it because the truth is I was going way overboard and being a BW hog.....      ..... I was working on a project with a friend and thats why the large usage on my part..... 
  Microwave

[netmasta]

From the Comcast FAQ:

How long can I stay on line before I have to log out?

As long as you like. You'll never be timed out, and you never have to log out! That's one of the many benefits of being a Comcast High-Speed Internet subscriber. Your time spent online is completely unlimited, with no additional charges.

Also, from the AUP:

Network, Bandwidth, Data Storage and Other Limitations
You must comply with all current bandwidth, data storage, and other limitations on the Service established by Comcast and its suppliers. In addition, you may only access and use the Service with a dynamic Internet Protocol ("IP") address that adheres to the dynamic host configuration protocol ("DHCP"). You may not access or use the Service with a static IP address or using any protocol other than DHCP unless you are subject to a Service plan that expressly permits otherwise.

You must ensure that your activity (including, but not limited to, use made by you or others of any Personal Web Features) does not improperly restrict, inhibit, or degrade any other user's use of the Service, nor represent (in the sole judgment of Comcast) an unusually large burden on the network. In addition, you must ensure that your activities do not improperly restrict, inhibit, disrupt, degrade or impede Comcast's ability to deliver the Service and monitor the Service, backbone, network nodes, and/or other network Services.

Violation of Acceptable Use Policy Comcast does not routinely monitor the activity of Service accounts for violation of this AUP. However, in our efforts to promote good citizenship within the Internet community, we will respond appropriately if we become aware of inappropriate use of our Service. Although Comcast has no obligation to monitor the Service and/or the network, Comcast and its suppliers reserve the right at any time to monitor bandwidth, usage, transmissions, and content from time to time to operate the Service; to identify violations of this Policy; and/or to protect the network, the Service and Comcast users.

I haven't found any specfic numbers.

[☻ ◦§1 ☺]

Well unfortinatly from all my people on Comcast, from what iv heard of the large division that uses this backbone, Comcast is the worst of all of them    ( with speeds and policies actualy )

[W Thomas]

Have they ever actually spcified a limit amount?  I have heard mention of this for a couple of years and have often wondered.
I listen to some internet radio and some streaming audio mainly on the weekends and have never had any troubles with them so far(knock on wood)

WT