[IP] Don't ask, we won't tell (anyway): Comcast users squeal as AUP letters go out
Delivered-To: dfarber+@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 08:07:22 -0800
From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[Note: This item comes from reader Steve Schear. As I rule, I don't post
graphics to the list. Steve's item included the graphic for a traffic sign
which states "SPEED LIMIT/We Won't Tell You". Under the sign in text,
"It's no different than a cop pulling you over and telling you that you
were going fast when there were no speed limit signs posted. DLH]
At 15:45 -0800 12/22/03, Steve Schear wrote:
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 15:45:26 -0800
To: dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
From: Steve Schear <s.schear@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Don't ask, we won't tell (anyway): Comcast users squeal as AUP
letters go out.
A recent spate of recent Acceptable Use Violations (AUPs) has got lots of
Comcast broadband cable users hopping mad or fearful. Although such warning
letters have gone out before it appears that there has been a recent marked
increase in such notices. Rumors abound as to why this increase is occurring.
The majority of users getting these notices seem to be either engaging in
heavy P2P or Usenet activities. The letters say that the subscriber's
aggregate bandwidth usage exceed 100 times the national median. However,
there is no on-line information defining this national median. I called
the number given on the AUP forms and after speaking with a service
representative determined that Comcast has no intention of divulging this
number. Their service representative was most congenial, apologetic even.
Many of the users reporting the letters say their bandwidth appetites
haven't changed much in many months or over a year, so why the spike in
notifications? For example,
<http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,8737754~root=comcast~mode=flat>
and
<http://www.altbinariesdvdr.net/forum/showthread.php@3fthreadid@3d4648@26goto@3dnewpost>
As to the reasons surmised by these customers for the increase, the two
leading candidates are: targeting of high-usage customers with poor DSL
alternatives, appeasing the RIAA/MPAA, conversion of subscribers to
commercial accounts at higher rates, and Comcast's 3 Mbps system wide
upgrade. I think its mainly the latter two.
Cable Internet providers have been touting the speed advantages of cable
over DSL. While this may be true, providing this bandwidth isn't any
cheaper for cable providers than for DSL. The bandwidth pool on these
services is a sort of "private commons." All users may draw from it at a
flat rate cost. This can lead some subscribers, who have been (unfairly, I
think) characterized as "bandwidth hogs", to take these cable companies up
on their offer, much as a team of football players might take a buffet
dining establishment up on their fixed price meal offer.
One poster said he was told that 1% of Comcast's customers use 28% of their
resources. As cable providers increase the available upload and download
bandwidth to subscribers they need to make sure that the minority that
really make use this bandwidth don't cause congestion problems and cost
them too much to service. I think these letters are: a preemptive strike
to knockdown or knock off the heaviest bandwidth users on their networks
ahead of the speed increases. Its also an attempt at drawing a line in the
sand (and an all but invisible one at that) for current and new subscribers
thinking about jumping aboard the bandwidth bonanza. Its a bit of false
advertising on the part of the cable industry.
It not all stick, however, Comcast offers high bandwidth users a carrot,
convert to a commercial Internet account with no bandwidth caps. While the
1.5 down /0.25 Mb up consumer account is pegged at about $40/month the
business version cost $100, a good deal but undoubtedly beyond the budget
of most consumers.
steve
Archives at: <http://Wireless.Com/Dewayne-Net>
Weblog at: <http://weblog.warpspeed.com>
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