So AT&T is testing usage caps

[Fritzo]

I keep saying this until I'm blue in the face----these bandwidth caps don't affect 99.9% of people. We have nearly 100K DSL customers. You know what the average bandwidth comsumption is per month? 7GB! I have 4 people in my household that watch Youtube all the time, + we watch a couple of Netflix movies a week. You know how much we use? 29.776GB last month, 20.322GB in Sept., and 27.693GB in August. Out of 100,000 customers, we have 17 that use 50GB/month. Our cap is 60GB (residential- 120GB for busienss), and we have 3 people on average per month that break this. In each and every case, these people were running torrents. In fact, these same people usually receive nastygrams from Universal, Paramont, and Disney for pirating their material.

You have to look at this from the provider's standpoint- the broadband market is saturated to the point where it's a commodity right now. They can't raise prices, their income levels are fixed, and they don't have extra money to add infrastructure. However, an extremely small percentage of users are maxing out the network- which is why caps are needed. These caps will not affect most people, and the ones it does affect can start threatening "Well- I'm going to cancel my service then!"

Good. This is what the provider WANTS you to do. Go max out the competitor's network.

I realize that streaming video is up and coming, but you'd have to watch a LOT of streaming video---an unhealthy amount---to reach a lot of the caps that are being set.

I imagine this problem will be going away as everything switches to wireless infrastructure over the next decade. Any profits right now from DSL right now is being used to roll out remote terminals to provide DSL in dead areas, so we're not going to be seeing huge jumps in bandwidth availability anytime soon.

 

[SOSTrooper]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
I keep saying this until I'm blue in the face----these bandwidth caps don't affect 99.9% of people.

I won't doubt that 0.1% of people who are affected by these cappings are all ATOTers.

 

[uhohs]

well crap, there goes at&t's biggest advantage/selling point for me. i've been stuck on their fastest dsl plan, the 6.0 Mbps/768 Kbps elite plan for years. speedwise it's pathetic and doesn't compare to cable competitors, but i never had to worry about caps.

 

[Delta6Echo]

Originally posted by: God Mode
http://gizmodo.com/5014290/wel...width-caps-in-the-fall

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6611072.html

Wtf

Why cant these fucking companies at least give customers a reliable tool to monitor their broadband consumption? Expecting them to roll over unused bandwidth is like turning water into wine at this rate.

I've read on another source that they will charge $1.00 for every gig over the cap.

AT&T internet is already slow as fvck and now they want to cap downloads? lol

They are going down...at least I hope they are.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: uhohs
well crap, there goes at&t's biggest advantage/selling point for me. i've been stuck on their fastest dsl plan, the 6.0 Mbps/768 Kbps elite plan for years. speedwise it's pathetic and doesn't compare to cable competitors, but i never had to worry about caps.

i've been on that plan and it's been better than cable.

got 2 DSL lines running to the house so at least i can double the cap.




i wonder what the cap is, i've probably done 20 GB in the last 2 days

 

[AeroEngy]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
...

I realize that streaming video is up and coming, but you'd have to watch a LOT of streaming video---an unhealthy amount---to reach a lot of the caps that are being set.
....

Not that much really. Xbox video market place has HD movie rentals. A single movie is about 4 to 6 GB depending on length, etc.

AT&T is planning on varying the cap based on your rated speed. DSL has a cap of 20GB, 3Mb cable is 60GB, 10Mb cable is 150GB cap.

So if you have DSL you can only watch about 4 movies on the Video market place and you will be at your cap.

 

[Delta6Echo]

Originally posted by: AeroEngy

Originally posted by: Fritzo
...

I realize that streaming video is up and coming, but you'd have to watch a LOT of streaming video---an unhealthy amount---to reach a lot of the caps that are being set.
....

Not that much really. Xbox video market place has HD movie rentals. A single movie is about 4 to 6 GB depending on length, etc.

AT&T is planning on varying the cap based on your rated speed. DSL has a cap of 20GB, 3Mb cable is 60GB, 10Mb cable is 150GB cap.

So if you have DSL you can only watch about 4 movies on the Video market place and you will be at your cap.

Give it up for the marketing geniuses at AT&T!

 

[Modelworks]

Blame the people that hog bandwidth.
They were told by their isp that their accounts would be terminated.
Those people got upset and sued the ISP because the service was unlimited.
So the courts ruled that they have to list any caps that are on the service, whatever they may be.

All ISP will be doing it, it was a FCC ruling that they must list any caps.
You basically can't have it both ways, if they say unlimited they can't go and add a clause saying, but we can disconnect you if you use it too much.

You also had comcast throttling bandwidth for torrents to keep the network from being overburdened, but you had no caps. That wasn't good enough for people so they complained. So comcast dropped the throttling and now you have caps.

Like they say, be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.

For me I don't care if they put caps, but they better give me 10Mbit 24/7 or I will complain.
If they want to charge me like a utility, they better provide service like one. I don't pay my electric company for service at the rated current 'sometimes'

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: JS80
can someone write what kind of downloading one would have to do in order hit such a cap?

Depends on the cap. Could be a handful of 1080p movies.

Right but the question really comes down to are they legal and needed.

I have been asked several times about HDD upgrades by people that just have their PC's downloading whatever all day and all night long.

It's like a collection or 'just because they can'.

Streaming video is certainly an interesting thing of the future. It seems like most ISPs also sell television service, so I can see why they wouldn't want to allow that. Do bandwidth caps in that sense constitute any kind of anti-competitiveness?

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Delta6Echo

Originally posted by: AeroEngy

Originally posted by: Fritzo
...

I realize that streaming video is up and coming, but you'd have to watch a LOT of streaming video---an unhealthy amount---to reach a lot of the caps that are being set.
....

Not that much really. Xbox video market place has HD movie rentals. A single movie is about 4 to 6 GB depending on length, etc.

AT&T is planning on varying the cap based on your rated speed. DSL has a cap of 20GB, 3Mb cable is 60GB, 10Mb cable is 150GB cap.

So if you have DSL you can only watch about 4 movies on the Video market place and you will be at your cap.

Give it up for the marketing geniuses at AT&T!

You sure about 20GB? I thought it was like 250GB? We have 60GB on our product.

 

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Blame the people that hog bandwidth.
They were told by their isp that their accounts would be terminated.
Those people got upset and sued the ISP because the service was unlimited.
So the courts ruled that they have to list any caps that are on the service, whatever they may be.

All ISP will be doing it, it was a FCC ruling that they must list any caps.
You basically can't have it both ways, if they say unlimited they can't go and add a clause saying, but we can disconnect you if you use it too much.

You also had comcast throttling bandwidth for torrents to keep the network from being overburdened, but you had no caps. That wasn't good enough for people so they complained. So comcast dropped the throttling and now you have caps.

Like they say, be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.

For me I don't care if they put caps, but they better give me 10Mbit 24/7 or I will complain.
If they want to charge me like a utility, they better provide service like one. I don't pay my electric company for service at the rated current 'sometimes'

Sorry, but when you advertise something as unlimited you are doing just that.

While they may take advantage of it they were promised it and the isp's were at fault for breaking their own rules.

 

[redelcamino]

Internet caps blow! ATT&T sucks too!

 

[AeroEngy]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: Delta6Echo

Originally posted by: AeroEngy

Originally posted by: Fritzo
...

I realize that streaming video is up and coming, but you'd have to watch a LOT of streaming video---an unhealthy amount---to reach a lot of the caps that are being set.
....

Not that much really. Xbox video market place has HD movie rentals. A single movie is about 4 to 6 GB depending on length, etc.

AT&T is planning on varying the cap based on your rated speed. DSL has a cap of 20GB, 3Mb cable is 60GB, 10Mb cable is 150GB cap.

So if you have DSL you can only watch about 4 movies on the Video market place and you will be at your cap.

Give it up for the marketing geniuses at AT&T!

You sure about 20GB? I thought it was like 250GB? We have 60GB on our product.

According to the AP article yes. Associated Press

 

[CptCrunch]

dd-wrt has a tool that monitors bandwidth based on a monthly chart. Even shows how much you downloaded/uploaded that day. Very handy. However, I am not a fan of these caps.

 

[yelo333]

I read that as ATOT is testing usage caps. With links to major news sites.

I'd rather have a usage cap than a "you're using more than the unlimited you paid for" stuff. If you do cap it, however, better make it realistic & don't throttle me or complain that I'm actually using up to the limit.

 

[olds]

Every time I see this thread title, I see ATOT.

 

[uhohs]

Originally posted by: AeroEngy

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: Delta6Echo

Originally posted by: AeroEngy

Originally posted by: Fritzo
...

I realize that streaming video is up and coming, but you'd have to watch a LOT of streaming video---an unhealthy amount---to reach a lot of the caps that are being set.
....

Not that much really. Xbox video market place has HD movie rentals. A single movie is about 4 to 6 GB depending on length, etc.

AT&T is planning on varying the cap based on your rated speed. DSL has a cap of 20GB, 3Mb cable is 60GB, 10Mb cable is 150GB cap.

So if you have DSL you can only watch about 4 movies on the Video market place and you will be at your cap.

Give it up for the marketing geniuses at AT&T!

You sure about 20GB? I thought it was like 250GB? We have 60GB on our product.

According to the AP article yes. Associated Press

oh wow, those caps are horrible. i guess i'll be switching isp's if they go through with this.

 

[racolvin]

The $1 per GB overage fee is crazy as well. If you're over your cap and then decide to watch a Netflix HD movie, that movie will cost you $4-6 in bandwidth??

 

[God Mode]

I just want rollover or a pay what you use pricing model.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: AeroEngy

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: Delta6Echo

Originally posted by: AeroEngy

Originally posted by: Fritzo
...

I realize that streaming video is up and coming, but you'd have to watch a LOT of streaming video---an unhealthy amount---to reach a lot of the caps that are being set.
....

Not that much really. Xbox video market place has HD movie rentals. A single movie is about 4 to 6 GB depending on length, etc.

AT&T is planning on varying the cap based on your rated speed. DSL has a cap of 20GB, 3Mb cable is 60GB, 10Mb cable is 150GB cap.

So if you have DSL you can only watch about 4 movies on the Video market place and you will be at your cap.

Give it up for the marketing geniuses at AT&T!

You sure about 20GB? I thought it was like 250GB? We have 60GB on our product.

According to the AP article yes. Associated Press

Let's read the details:

Starting in November, AT&T will limit downloads to 20 gigabytes per month for users of their slowest DSL service, at 768 kilobits per second. The limit increases with the speed of the plan, up to 150 gigabytes per month at the 10 megabits-per-second level.

To exceed the limits, subscribers would need to download constantly at maximum speeds for more than 42 hours, depending on the tier. In practice, use of e-mail and the Web wouldn't take a subscriber anywhere near the limit, but streaming video services like the one Netflix Inc. offers could. For example, subscribers who get downloads of 3 megabits per second have a monthly cap of 60 gigabytes, which allows for the download of about 30 DVD-quality movies.

The limits will initially apply to new customers in the Reno area, AT&T said. Current users will be enrolled if they exceed 150 gigabytes in a month, regardless of their connection speed.

That doesn't sound bad at all.

 

[SludgeFactory]

Originally posted by: God Mode
I just want rollover or a pay what you use pricing model.

If your average user was consuming 7GB/month, and your median user most likely even less than that, would you charge them $1/GB flat rate, or happily continue screwing them for $49.95 a month? The typical user for these companies is closer to a parent/grandparent doing nothing but email and Ebay than these devil customers who are supposedly ruining it for everybody else.

They've had "abusers" of their service for years, now suddenly it's an issue. Right. It's a lot more palatable to point fingers at 0.674281% of their customer base than admit to everyone what they're really doing -- throwing their weight around as the monopolistic gatekeepers of residential internet access in this country and getting into position to leech huge $$$$ from future content providers who will eventually wipe cable TV off the map.

 

[God Mode]

This will only stunt technological growth and people will soon find every way to decrease their consumption. This means no internet ad's which a lot of free services depend on for revenue, no websites with excessive scripts and pictures etc etc.

Innovations that require a lot of consumption ie streaming HD video, downloading games from services like steam, will be pretty much obsolete since file sizes for a lot of these products seem to be getting larger every year.

We all know the people that consume the so-called <3GB a month dont browse youtube or do any of these activities.

This will just cause problems for a lot of markets. Free wifi even if its nannied from the government is better than this. If Time warner or verizon pulls this shit, they would be losing $500+ a month from my household.

I'm not saying caps arent fair. Its the implementation and the lack of a realtime usage meter, rolling over unused service and penalties/price for going over that irks me.

 

[BladeVenom]

Think of Steam and digital downloads. This is going to suck for anyone who ever needs to reinstall all their games.

 

[frostedflakes]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Blame the people that hog bandwidth.
They were told by their isp that their accounts would be terminated.
Those people got upset and sued the ISP because the service was unlimited.
So the courts ruled that they have to list any caps that are on the service, whatever they may be.

All ISP will be doing it, it was a FCC ruling that they must list any caps.
You basically can't have it both ways, if they say unlimited they can't go and add a clause saying, but we can disconnect you if you use it too much.

You also had comcast throttling bandwidth for torrents to keep the network from being overburdened, but you had no caps. That wasn't good enough for people so they complained. So comcast dropped the throttling and now you have caps.

Like they say, be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.

For me I don't care if they put caps, but they better give me 10Mbit 24/7 or I will complain.
If they want to charge me like a utility, they better provide service like one. I don't pay my electric company for service at the rated current 'sometimes'

Actually, Comcast will still throttle, but the new system will be protocol agnostic.

 

[spidey07]

Get used to it. The all you can eat model is going to be dead soon.

This is the hottest topic in the consumer broadband arena - how to remain profitable and get rid of the abusers or at least make them pay for their abuse. All kinds of new products being released to address this very problem. As mentioned it's a commodity now as far as price and they can't provide that kind of capacity without charging for it somehow.