Comcast’s data caps are ‘just low enough to punish streaming’

[Linux23]

Sad that before you decide to pickup and move to a different neighborhood you'll need to do a thorough check on what ISP offerings are in the area.

Only in good ole Murica

 

[Shlong]

I don't download much at all but I watch a lot of videos on YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Twitch. I average around 305GB a month and in the past year have gone over the 300GB threshold five times (Comcast gives me 3 free months of leeway but the other 2 months I had to pay an additional $10 for 50GB more). With 4K streaming becoming more prevalent, they really need to increase the monthly cap to around 500GB.

 

[QueBert]

change companies.

oh wait.

it's like they carved out a map of who can have what territory.

kinda like a cartel.

I live in California and the only cable I can get is Charter, that map sucks. My Bro in Law lives in California and the only cable in his area is Time Warner. I think that map's probably way off. I could also get FIOS, U-Verse, DirecTV & Dish. So it's not exactly like even though Charter's the only cable in my town that it's my only option.

 

[ElFenix]

I love the irony of this report coming out while Comcast radio ads extol the virtues of Comcast's speed letting "kids stream videos while the adults do more adult things such as posting pictures to Instagram and videos to Snapchat"

 

[Zodiark1593]

Only choice in my area is Comcast. Their 250GB cap isn't yet enforced, but even with 6 mbps, we're regularly exceeding 300 GB.

 

[Brovane]

In May of this year Cox increased their data cap in California from 250GB to 350GB for preferred. Not that Cox really enforces their data cap to strictly. However it is nice to see the data cap increase as speed increases. If you get Premier package you get 700 GB and with Ultimate and Gigablast you get 2000GB of data.

 

[Linux23]

Shit I just checked my tomato router logs and Nov I clocked in 1.9 TB up and download combined. It was a busy month. Being capped below a TB is a joke.

 

[master_shake_]

if you pay them 15 dollars you can stream all you want.


http://bgr.com/2015/12/01/comcast-streaming-tv-service-net-neutrality/

who needs net neutrality when it's not technically the internet.

Will Stream TV use data from my XFINITY Internet monthly data usage allowance?
No, Stream TV is a cable streaming service delivered over Comcast’s cable system, not over the Internet. Therefore, Stream TV data usage will not be counted towards your XFINITY Internet monthly data usage.

 

[pcslookout]

No one cares about data caps because they don't matter. Most people don't download over 300 GB a month.

 

[OverVolt]

No one cares about data caps because they don't matter. Most people don't download over 300 GB a month.

Hmm? What about people who cut the cord and stream all TV?

 

[Xed]

My latest bill said Comcast is raising all the double/triple play packages 20-30 bucks a month in this area. Only other option is 6mb with AT&T.

Hoping Google decides to come to Chicagoland.

 

[Phoenix86]

Shit I just checked my tomato router logs and Nov I clocked in 1.9 TB up and download combined. It was a busy month. Being capped below a TB is a joke.

We have ~5 iphones+tablets, 1 android, and 3 PCs (one gaming). Updates alone will chew through that in a given month easily on average. That's w/o streaming.

 

[Phoenix86]

My latest bill said Comcast is raising all the double/triple play packages 20-30 bucks a month in this area. Only other option is 6mb with AT&T.

Hoping Google decides to come to Chicagoland.

Given the politics that's exceedingly difficult. HOWEVER, you're in luck, they are actually looking at expanding to Chicago!

https://fiber.google.com/cities/chicago/

 

[XavierMace]

No one cares about data caps because they don't matter. Most people don't download over 300 GB a month.

Do you have some actual data to back that up?

 

[Phoenix86]

Do you have some actual data to back that up?

It's in his desk at the google office.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Shit I just checked my tomato router logs and Nov I clocked in 1.9 TB up and download combined. It was a busy month. Being capped below a TB is a joke.

I do 1TB/wk.

 

[balloonshark]

Perfect! That means you can get 50GB of high speed internet for $10/month, so people like my mother don't get ripped off, right? Right???

Sure, aren't all companies looking out for the little people :hmm:

My bill is $43 a month for 50Mbps down with a 250GB a month cap. If I go over it's $10 per 50GB. Or I could do that smart thing and pay $10 a month for 75Mbps down which has a 350GB cap. I'm sure they'll fix that little loophole soon since their being bought by Altice.

Also, they have gigabit speeds in a few markets and the cap is 550GB

 

[Charmonium]

I'm sure they'll fix that little loophole soon since their being bought by Altice.

What have you heard about Altice. They're the ones who bought my ISP, Cablevision

 

[balloonshark]

What have you heard about Altice. They're the ones who bought my ISP, Cablevision

These may help.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-suddenlink-m-a-altice-idUSKBN0O50IG20150520

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cablevision-Sold-to-French-Company-Altice-for-177-Billion-135127

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Altice-Says-Its-Cable-Acquisition-Spree-Over-For-Now-135205

 

[Charmonium]

Thanks, but this is more what I was looking for. Not good news though.

http://stopthecap.com/2015/05/20/pa...t-is-likely-bad-news-for-customers-employees/

 

[BarkingGhostar]

If you have a complaint then see your COUNTY franchise authority. The local redneck is likely the one that brokered the deal for your couch bending.

 

[Aikouka]

if you pay them 15 dollars you can stream all you want.


http://bgr.com/2015/12/01/comcast-streaming-tv-service-net-neutrality/

who needs net neutrality when it's not technically the internet.

Here's an interesting question for Comcast... at what point is data considered to have "entered the Internet"? Most would probably assume that it's considered "on the Internet" once it hits your modem and has left your local area network (LAN) to go over the wide area network (WAN). Comcast's IP TV is in fact a product that is delivered over the Internet. It requires you to have a cable modem with a Comcast Internet subscription, and the "signal" is delivered through your connection. The only difference is that Comcast's streaming service never crosses a peered connection (i.e. remains on Comcast's WAN the entire time).

So, I'd like to run a test based upon that. I need to find someone that is also on Comcast and routed to me through all Comcast equipment (i.e. we're connectable through the Comcast WAN). Then, I'll transfer a few GB of data to that person and see if it counts as data usage. The point of the test is that I'm pretty sure the data is going to count against both of us even though it is arguably no different to Comcast than their streaming TV service, which does not count.

 

[slag]

Yes. I refuse to "upgrade" to 18mb uverse because it has a 250gb cap with $1/gb overage charge ($50 minimum charge) for the same price. So I stick with my unlimited DSL and hope for a better tomorrow.

Some of my neighbors have had over $200 bills because of that.

Must be regional. I had 18 mb uverse and didn't have a cap and now have 75 mb uverse and still have no caps.

AFAIK, only dsl had caps, uverse had no caps.

 

[Blanky]

Some people do have caps at just the right point, the cost to go through extra data is egregious.

It's really high fucking time that broadband internet was taken over like other utilities so that these companies are prohibited from such anti-consumer behavior. I know in Atlanta one of the providers there charges $10 for each extra 50GB. I am just guessing that data costs the company pennies, and there isn't a ready option to even go with a higher plan that gives more monthly data.

 

[Golgatha]

Got Google Fiber a couple of months ago. Called AT&T to cancel my old U-Verse service.

AT&T Rep - We're sorry to see you go. Just curious what made you want to switch?

Me - Umm, your 18/3 connection is priced only $0.45/month less than the 1000/1000 connection I now have. Also, in order to get that rate I had to call you once a year and threaten to leave. Bye Felicia (ok Bye Felicia was made up, but the rest is true)!