Opher BanarieComcast In The News Again!
September 3rd 2008 22:02
Since my previous post, Comcast has again landed in the news. Now they announce that, starting in October, subscribers will be limited to 250GB of bandwidth per month. Go over that limit, you get a warning. Exceed the limit again and you get cut off the Internet for a year.
Ah, isn't that a little harsh? Especially considering that Comcast gives (a) no information about your usage trend, (b) provides no way to monitor your ussage, (c) makes no adjustment for subscribers with multiple users (such as roommates or families with active kids) and (d) provides no option to buy more bandwidth to avoid the cut off.
And since most cable providers are monopolies in the markets they serve, a subscriber who gets cut off may have no option to re-gain Internet access.
Does this work for you? What about the fact that every page full of ads and video that someone else placed there will count against YOUR usage cap...is that fair?
Seems to me this will be a class-action lawsuit as soon as the first person is cut off. Yes, the limit is high, but Comcast cannot make the penalty so harsh. What if the local water utility said you had used too much water and "you don't get any more for a year"? Bad analogy? Maybe, but what if you were a video developer working in your home office and suddenly you were unable to do your work?
Ah, isn't that a little harsh? Especially considering that Comcast gives (a) no information about your usage trend, (b) provides no way to monitor your ussage, (c) makes no adjustment for subscribers with multiple users (such as roommates or families with active kids) and (d) provides no option to buy more bandwidth to avoid the cut off.
And since most cable providers are monopolies in the markets they serve, a subscriber who gets cut off may have no option to re-gain Internet access.
Does this work for you? What about the fact that every page full of ads and video that someone else placed there will count against YOUR usage cap...is that fair?
Seems to me this will be a class-action lawsuit as soon as the first person is cut off. Yes, the limit is high, but Comcast cannot make the penalty so harsh. What if the local water utility said you had used too much water and "you don't get any more for a year"? Bad analogy? Maybe, but what if you were a video developer working in your home office and suddenly you were unable to do your work?
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