Comcast settles throttling lawsuit, go get your money

[tyler811]

"Whoever says the legal system in this country is broken, well, you're right. Comcast was caught tampering with its customers' packets two years ago. It bitched and moaned like nobody's business earning itself no friends. The Federal Commission sanctioned the gigantic corporation in what amounted to a slap on the wrist. Big deal. A class action lawsuit was filed, which was just settled for $16 million. Comcast raked in $34.3 billion in revenue in 2008, meaning that this settlement amounts to four hours of revenue. That's right: four hours. Take that, corporate America!"

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/12/22/comcast-settles-throttling-lawsuit-go-get-your-money

 

[PrinceofWands]

The $16 maximum payout isn't worth the time it would take to fill out the paperwork...but I did it anyway just to take whatever I could from those evil bastards.

 

[child of wonder]

They're just going to raise rates to make up the difference.

 

[TridenT]

They're just going to raise rates to make up the difference.

bingo----....

Consumer will lose in this no matter what. >.>

Wish I had another option for an ISP but comcast is the only one since I don't have a land line and never plan on paying for one...

 

[Kadarin]

I don't have Comcast for internet, but I did vote with my wallet and discontinued my Comcast cable tv service.

 

[M0RPH]

Comcast, evil corporation, yada yada, baby eaters, blah blah.

I've been nothing but happy with my Comcast service in the few years I've had it.

Don't really give a rats ass if some dude running a bunch of file-sharing apps 24/7 gets throttled.

 

[spidey07]

The new protocol agnostic throttling system takes care of this.

Here's your 16 bucks network abusers. We'll make our money anyway because you use our service. So here's your 16 bucks...you win.

 

[ChrisIsBored]

The $16 maximum payout isn't worth the time it would take to fill out the paperwork...but I did it anyway just to take whatever I could from those evil bastards.

The online claim says its "Under Construction", and the printer friendly form says it will be available Jan. 4th.

How exactly did you fill it out already?

 

[Aharami]

The $16 maximum payout isn't worth the time it would take to fill out the paperwork...but I did it anyway just to take whatever I could from those evil bastards.

how did you do it anyway when the claim forms arent even available?

 

[rudeguy]

bingo----....

Consumer will lose in this no matter what. >.>

Wish I had another option for an ISP but comcast is the only one since I don't have a land line and never plan on paying for one...

you pay the cable bill?

 

[novasatori]

I pulled a PrinceofWands and filed one too.

Wait.... :hmm:

 

[SunSamurai]

bingo----....

Consumer will lose in this no matter what. >.>

Wish I had another option for an ISP but comcast is the only one since I don't have a land line and never plan on paying for one...

But they can just find another provider.

Thats capitalism. Thats a free market system.





... :sneaky:

 

[PrinceofWands]

The online claim says its "Under Construction", and the printer friendly form says it will be available Jan. 4th.

How exactly did you fill it out already?

Sorry, totally misread your post.

I didn't, I went to the site to fill it out, but yeah, it's not up yet. I just didn't come back here to correct it.

 

[mugs]

They're just going to raise rates to make up the difference.

... did you read the OP? It's pretty much an inconsequential amount of money to Comcast. You think they're going to raise everyone's rates by a nickel because they're worried about the $16 million they lost? This won't be a factor in determining anyone's rates.

 

[SunSamurai]

The new protocol agnostic throttling system takes care of this.

Here's your 16 bucks network abusers. We'll make our money anyway because you use our service. So here's your 16 bucks...you win.

While I agree with people abusing such services, don't you think such services should not be labeled 'Unlimited' in the first place?

Also, the corruption here is that while the abuse is wrong, the fact that many people effected by this were not in the wrong, get their 16$, and are screwed by what you said and what will obviously happen.Now a great many of those people in turn have NO OTHER OPTION FOR INTERNET.

Thats corruption.

 

[ViviTheMage]

The $16 maximum payout isn't worth the time it would take to fill out the paperwork...but I did it anyway just to take whatever I could from those evil bastards.

yup

 

[Anubis]

... did you read the OP? It's pretty much an inconsequential amount of money to Comcast. You think they're going to raise everyone's rates by a nickel because they're worried about the $16 million they lost? This won't be a factor in determining anyone's rates.

i think you underestimate corporate greed

 

[coloumb]

Hmm..well.. Jan 4, 2010 is marked on my calendar to remind me to visit the website to see how much pain is required to submit an online form. I doubt the amount will be much - so I'll just use it to buy lottery tickets.

 

[child of wonder]

... did you read the OP? It's pretty much an inconsequential amount of money to Comcast. You think they're going to raise everyone's rates by a nickel because they're worried about the $16 million they lost? This won't be a factor in determining anyone's rates.

lol

You think Comcast will just shrug their shoulders over $16M and eat the loss?

 

[0roo0roo]

While I agree with people abusing such services, don't you think such services should not be labeled 'Unlimited' in the first place?

Also, the corruption here is that while the abuse is wrong, the fact that many people effected by this were not in the wrong, get their 16$, and are screwed by what you said and what will obviously happen.Now a great many of those people in turn have NO OTHER OPTION FOR INTERNET.

Thats corruption.

plus they are hardly abusing, they are using what they paid for. if you can't handle it sell smaller speed tiers instead of over selling so much hoping no one uses bandwidth. never mind the fact that they are making tons of profit, in a business where the cost of bandwidth continuously drops, so to complain about people using the network is simply nonsense. they simply would rather they not have to upgrade as much so they could make even greater profits. its simply greed.

plus, if the US were number 1 in the world for broadband access and speed i'd cut them a break. but since we are being offered peanuts compared to other countries and our isps still claim we are using too much of their second rate service its just total bullsh*t.

 

[mugs]

lol

You think Comcast will just shrug their shoulders over $16M and eat the loss?

I think that Comcast will charge the price that they believe will maximize their profits (the only sensible thing to do). This $16 million settlement would have no impact on what that price is.

While I agree with people abusing such services, don't you think such services should not be labeled 'Unlimited' in the first place?

I feel like I have to point this out in every thread about Comcast high speed Internet... Comcast doesn't call their high speed Internet service unlimited anymore. They haven't for a few years.

 

[dawp]

bingo----....

Consumer will lose in this no matter what. >.>

Wish I had another option for an ISP but comcast is the only one since I don't have a land line and never plan on paying for one...

you may be able to get dsl unbundled, but it will cost you a little more than having it included in the phone bill.