I thought the following might be of interest to anyone considering cable
internet.
Subject: US Comcast High-Speed Internet cable residential: not so
"unlimited"
From: [email protected] (RMonroe)
Newsgroups: alt.internet.providers.america, alt.consumers,
alt.consumers.experiences
After months of normal service, I received a letter from Comcast
recently informing me of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) violation -
Bandwidth Usage Limitations and threatening suspension/termination.
When referred to the page http://www.comcast.net/terms/use.jsp
mysteriously missing is any language whatsoever specifically
describing how many hours or how many bytes downloaded are
"acceptable."
When I first investigated Comcast, I specifically said I would be
using it in with Giganews to download from USENET newsgroups heavily.
I asked the rep if there were any limits in bandwidth usage to the
residential accounts. I was told NOT to operate a server and to NOT
use it commercially. Other than that, I could be using it 24/7 to
download as much as I wanted from the Internet or USENET, no problemo.
Now that the introductory rate is about to expire at the end of the
year, I suddenly receive this letter from their Abuse and Fraud
department. After speaking to four representatives, I was told they
really don't have any set level of usage but I was using it too much.
How too much, I asked? Well, we can't tell you a figure of your usage
nor what is too much usage but it was too much. So how much is
"acceptable usage" then? We can't really say but use it less. Pay
out your wazoo but use our service less. Sounds like a great deal!
Not much of a policy is it? Does a cop give you a ticket for
speeding, then tell you that you were going too fast despite there
being no speed limits? Does the phone company call you up to tell you
that you used the telephone 25 hours a day instead of 24 so you
overused it? No, but Comcast will invite you to the buffet, then tell
you "you eat too much, you go now." Amazing considering that Comcast
promotes GigaNews as your only source of USENET.
I said that was not what I had agreed to when service began but
curious, I asked should I cut back 10%, 25%, 33 1/3%, 50%? How long
and how many megabytes/gigabytes were "acceptible" to Comcast? Uh, we
have no such number sir, but be assured you were above whatever it
would be." Oh, we could sell you a "commercial" account, sir. I bet.
What BS. Had Comcast had a set number of hours/bandwidth usage, had
the policy changed even, I would be disappointed but understand.
However I see there is no policy, just an intimidation. Well, there
are alternatives. Wonder if they sour like Comcast? Like DSL, like
satellite.
Larry Blanchard quoted a complaint from a Comcast user:
<quote snipped>
> After months of normal service, I received a letter from Comcast
> recently informing me of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) violation -
> Bandwidth Usage Limitations and threatening suspension/termination.
> When referred to the page http://www.comcast.net/terms/use.jsp
> mysteriously missing is any language whatsoever specifically
> describing how many hours or how many bytes downloaded are
> "acceptable."
Comcast does state there policy on the download limitation in the cited URL:
"Comcast permits users of the Service to download a maximum of one gigabyte
(1GB) of newsgroup content in any one month, unless users are subject to a
Service plan that permits downloading more newsgroup content. "
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
(Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)
I looked at the Giganews site but couldn't find anything that would tell
me what I'd DL'd so far. Since I'm a Comcast customer I don't have a
'paying' acct with Giganews, thus no login etc. For us on the newsgroup
'freebie' side thru Comcast, how/where do you access your DL stats?
Timothy Drouillard wrote:
> Yes you are correct. If you have the standard Comcast/Giganews account that
> is good for 1gig of downloads, and you exceed that amount, you cannot
> download anything till that month is over. The good news is, there is a
> Giganews web site where you can review your current stats any time to want
> so you can get an idea of how much you've downloaded so far.
>
>
> "Grandpa" <jsdebooATcomcast.net> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Nova wrote:
>>
>>>Larry Blanchard quoted a complaint from a Comcast user:
>>>
>>><quote snipped>
>>>
>>>>After months of normal service, I received a letter from Comcast
>>>>recently informing me of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) violation -
>>>>Bandwidth Usage Limitations and threatening suspension/termination.
>>>>When referred to the page http://www.comcast.net/terms/use.jsp
>>>>mysteriously missing is any language whatsoever specifically
>>>>describing how many hours or how many bytes downloaded are
>>>>"acceptable."
>>
>>>Comcast does state there policy on the download limitation in the cited
>
> URL:
>
>>>"Comcast permits users of the Service to download a maximum of one
>
> gigabyte
>
>>>(1GB) of newsgroup content in any one month, unless users are subject to
>
> a
>
>>>Service plan that permits downloading more newsgroup content. "
>>
>>And to add to this, I understood that if you exceeded the 1gb limitation
>> for free DLs etc, that you could not DL anything else automatically
>>until the new month came about. Thats why I've stayed away from the
>>binary groups which use a lot more space than the text newsgroups.
>>
>
>
>
Nova wandered in from the void and babbled something like:
>Larry Blanchard quoted a complaint from a Comcast user:
>
><quote snipped>
>
>> After months of normal service, I received a letter from Comcast
>> recently informing me of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) violation -
>> Bandwidth Usage Limitations and threatening suspension/termination.
>> When referred to the page http://www.comcast.net/terms/use.jsp
>> mysteriously missing is any language whatsoever specifically
>> describing how many hours or how many bytes downloaded are
>> "acceptable."
>
>Comcast does state there policy on the download limitation in the cited URL:
>
>"Comcast permits users of the Service to download a maximum of one gigabyte
>(1GB) of newsgroup content in any one month, unless users are subject to a
>Service plan that permits downloading more newsgroup content. "
And they generally frown on hording WAREZ as well... ;-)
Greg
I'm a residential user of Comcast cable modem internet access, and have been
for a few years now.
The only limit I'm aware of as far as downloading, is USENT groups on
Giganews.
I year or so ago, Comcast (at least in the Detroit area), switched from
using their own News servers, to providing everyone with an account with
Giganews. At no additional charge beyond what we eere paying for our
standard montly broadband access, we are allowed to download up to 1 gig
from the news groups.
If you feel the need to download more than 1 gig per month, you can upgrade
your Giganes account. I don't remember the rates , but they weren't that
bad.
In my area, about a month or two ago, I recieved a notice from Comcast that
they were doubling our access speed at no charge.
here is what Comcast sent me in part
"
Comcast High-Speed Internet downstream speed is limited to 3Mbps, upstream
speed is limited to 256Kbps. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. Many
factors affect download speed. Comcast reserves the right to change the
speed. Comcast High-Speed Internet Pro download speeds will increase to
4Mbps/384Kbps. Comcast Home Networking customer's downstream speeds will
increase to 4Mbps; upstream speeds will increase to 384Kbps, formerly
2.5Mbps/256Kbps. "
The only limits I'm aware of on a residential account is you're asked not to
run a server, and you can't use a VPN.
"Larry Blanchard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I thought the following might be of interest to anyone considering cable
> internet.
>
>
>
> Subject: US Comcast High-Speed Internet cable residential: not so
> "unlimited"
> From: [email protected] (RMonroe)
> Newsgroups: alt.internet.providers.america, alt.consumers,
> alt.consumers.experiences
>
> After months of normal service, I received a letter from Comcast
> recently informing me of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) violation -
> Bandwidth Usage Limitations and threatening suspension/termination.
> When referred to the page http://www.comcast.net/terms/use.jsp
> mysteriously missing is any language whatsoever specifically
> describing how many hours or how many bytes downloaded are
> "acceptable."
>
> When I first investigated Comcast, I specifically said I would be
> using it in with Giganews to download from USENET newsgroups heavily.
> I asked the rep if there were any limits in bandwidth usage to the
> residential accounts. I was told NOT to operate a server and to NOT
> use it commercially. Other than that, I could be using it 24/7 to
> download as much as I wanted from the Internet or USENET, no problemo.
> Now that the introductory rate is about to expire at the end of the
> year, I suddenly receive this letter from their Abuse and Fraud
> department. After speaking to four representatives, I was told they
> really don't have any set level of usage but I was using it too much.
> How too much, I asked? Well, we can't tell you a figure of your usage
> nor what is too much usage but it was too much. So how much is
> "acceptable usage" then? We can't really say but use it less. Pay
> out your wazoo but use our service less. Sounds like a great deal!
>
> Not much of a policy is it? Does a cop give you a ticket for
> speeding, then tell you that you were going too fast despite there
> being no speed limits? Does the phone company call you up to tell you
> that you used the telephone 25 hours a day instead of 24 so you
> overused it? No, but Comcast will invite you to the buffet, then tell
> you "you eat too much, you go now." Amazing considering that Comcast
> promotes GigaNews as your only source of USENET.
>
> I said that was not what I had agreed to when service began but
> curious, I asked should I cut back 10%, 25%, 33 1/3%, 50%? How long
> and how many megabytes/gigabytes were "acceptible" to Comcast? Uh, we
> have no such number sir, but be assured you were above whatever it
> would be." Oh, we could sell you a "commercial" account, sir. I bet.
>
> What BS. Had Comcast had a set number of hours/bandwidth usage, had
> the policy changed even, I would be disappointed but understand.
> However I see there is no policy, just an intimidation. Well, there
> are alternatives. Wonder if they sour like Comcast? Like DSL, like
> satellite.
>
"Larry Blanchard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> However I see there is no policy, just an intimidation. Well, there
> are alternatives.
If there is no policy, there is no limit. Sounds like the makings of a
lawsuit.
To see your Giganews stats,
Go here
https://secure.giganews.com/maintenance/cgi-bin/index.pl
You will need to log in using the Giganews user login name and password that
Comcast provided to you.
Once you've logged in, follow the menus and you can drill down and see not
only your stats for the past year or better but if you click on the current
billing period, it will show you on a day by day basis your current stats.
"Grandpa" <jsdebooATcomcast.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I looked at the Giganews site but couldn't find anything that would tell
> me what I'd DL'd so far. Since I'm a Comcast customer I don't have a
> 'paying' acct with Giganews, thus no login etc. For us on the newsgroup
> 'freebie' side thru Comcast, how/where do you access your DL stats?
>
> Timothy Drouillard wrote:
> > Yes you are correct. If you have the standard Comcast/Giganews account
that
> > is good for 1gig of downloads, and you exceed that amount, you cannot
> > download anything till that month is over. The good news is, there is a
> > Giganews web site where you can review your current stats any time to
want
> > so you can get an idea of how much you've downloaded so far.
> >
> >
> > "Grandpa" <jsdebooATcomcast.net> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >
> >>Nova wrote:
> >>
> >>>Larry Blanchard quoted a complaint from a Comcast user:
> >>>
> >>><quote snipped>
> >>>
> >>>>After months of normal service, I received a letter from Comcast
> >>>>recently informing me of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) violation -
> >>>>Bandwidth Usage Limitations and threatening suspension/termination.
> >>>>When referred to the page http://www.comcast.net/terms/use.jsp
> >>>>mysteriously missing is any language whatsoever specifically
> >>>>describing how many hours or how many bytes downloaded are
> >>>>"acceptable."
> >>
> >>>Comcast does state there policy on the download limitation in the cited
> >
> > URL:
> >
> >>>"Comcast permits users of the Service to download a maximum of one
> >
> > gigabyte
> >
> >>>(1GB) of newsgroup content in any one month, unless users are subject
to
> >
> > a
> >
> >>>Service plan that permits downloading more newsgroup content. "
> >>
> >>And to add to this, I understood that if you exceeded the 1gb limitation
> >> for free DLs etc, that you could not DL anything else automatically
> >>until the new month came about. Thats why I've stayed away from the
> >>binary groups which use a lot more space than the text newsgroups.
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>
Yes you are correct. If you have the standard Comcast/Giganews account that
is good for 1gig of downloads, and you exceed that amount, you cannot
download anything till that month is over. The good news is, there is a
Giganews web site where you can review your current stats any time to want
so you can get an idea of how much you've downloaded so far.
"Grandpa" <jsdebooATcomcast.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Nova wrote:
> > Larry Blanchard quoted a complaint from a Comcast user:
> >
> > <quote snipped>
> >
> >>After months of normal service, I received a letter from Comcast
> >>recently informing me of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) violation -
> >>Bandwidth Usage Limitations and threatening suspension/termination.
> >>When referred to the page http://www.comcast.net/terms/use.jsp
> >>mysteriously missing is any language whatsoever specifically
> >>describing how many hours or how many bytes downloaded are
> >>"acceptable."
>
> > Comcast does state there policy on the download limitation in the cited
URL:
> >
> > "Comcast permits users of the Service to download a maximum of one
gigabyte
> > (1GB) of newsgroup content in any one month, unless users are subject to
a
> > Service plan that permits downloading more newsgroup content. "
>
> And to add to this, I understood that if you exceeded the 1gb limitation
> for free DLs etc, that you could not DL anything else automatically
> until the new month came about. Thats why I've stayed away from the
> binary groups which use a lot more space than the text newsgroups.
>
Nova wrote:
> Larry Blanchard quoted a complaint from a Comcast user:
>
> <quote snipped>
>
>>After months of normal service, I received a letter from Comcast
>>recently informing me of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) violation -
>>Bandwidth Usage Limitations and threatening suspension/termination.
>>When referred to the page http://www.comcast.net/terms/use.jsp
>>mysteriously missing is any language whatsoever specifically
>>describing how many hours or how many bytes downloaded are
>>"acceptable."
> Comcast does state there policy on the download limitation in the cited URL:
>
> "Comcast permits users of the Service to download a maximum of one gigabyte
> (1GB) of newsgroup content in any one month, unless users are subject to a
> Service plan that permits downloading more newsgroup content. "
And to add to this, I understood that if you exceeded the 1gb limitation
for free DLs etc, that you could not DL anything else automatically
until the new month came about. Thats why I've stayed away from the
binary groups which use a lot more space than the text newsgroups.
Nova wrote:
> Comcast does state there policy on the download limitation in the cited URL:
>
> "Comcast permits users of the Service to download a maximum of one gigabyte
> (1GB) of newsgroup content in any one month, unless users are subject to a
> Service plan that permits downloading more newsgroup content. "
1 gig isn't that much porn.
I guess he's going to have to find another source.
--
Mark
N.E. Ohio
Never argue with a fool, a bystander can't tell you apart. (S. Clemens,
A.K.A. Mark Twain)
When in doubt hit the throttle. It may not help but it sure ends the
suspense. (Gaz, r.moto)
Larry Blanchard wrote:
> However I see there is no policy, just an intimidation. Well, there
> are alternatives. Wonder if they sour like Comcast? Like DSL, like
> satellite.
No alternatives for me. Adelphia cable or dial-up.
I've been afraid of the very sort of bait and switch tactics you describe,
which is why I'm still using dial-up. Not to mention how much it hurts
once they jack up the price.
I figure they're like crack dealers. Give you some for free, then get you
addicted... They can keep it. I can update everything on my computer in
40 hours. I can tie my phone up for 40 hours once in awhile. I don't need
cable, even if it is 100 times faster. I'm poor, patient, and cheap.
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
That is actually just the limit of the plan that they provide from Giganews.
You can purchase other plans directly from Giganews for higher limits.
Rob
"Nova" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Larry Blanchard quoted a complaint from a Comcast user:
>
> <quote snipped>
>
> > After months of normal service, I received a letter from Comcast
> > recently informing me of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) violation -
> > Bandwidth Usage Limitations and threatening suspension/termination.
> > When referred to the page http://www.comcast.net/terms/use.jsp
> > mysteriously missing is any language whatsoever specifically
> > describing how many hours or how many bytes downloaded are
> > "acceptable."
>
> Comcast does state there policy on the download limitation in the cited
URL:
>
> "Comcast permits users of the Service to download a maximum of one
gigabyte
> (1GB) of newsgroup content in any one month, unless users are subject to a
> Service plan that permits downloading more newsgroup content. "
>
> --
> Jack Novak
> Buffalo, NY - USA
> (Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)
>
>