Comments on: Memo To Comcast: Show Us the Meter for Metered Broadband http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/ Trusted Insights and Conversations on the Next Wave of Technology Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:54:52 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Why Your Broadband Meter Is Running Late – GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-985383 Why Your Broadband Meter Is Running Late – GigaOM Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:10:32 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-985383 <p>[...] 0 0 0 As ISPs have introduced capped or metered broadband, the one element that’s been missing is the meter. Over at my old hometown newspaper, the Houston Chronicle, columnist Dwight Silverman points out [...]</p> [...] 0 0 0 As ISPs have introduced capped or metered broadband, the one element that’s been missing is the meter. Over at my old hometown newspaper, the Houston Chronicle, columnist Dwight Silverman points out [...]

]]> By: Is There Such a Thing As a Better Broadband Cap? http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-941541 Is There Such a Thing As a Better Broadband Cap? Fri, 01 May 2009 20:38:57 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-941541 [...] Provide a meter so folks can see if they’re close to maxing out their service. [...] [...] Provide a meter so folks can see if they’re close to maxing out their service. [...]

]]> By: anon http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-940770 anon Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:53:48 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-940770 IF THEY USE A METER, THEY ARE JEOPARDIZING THEIR OWN BUSINESS. LIKE YOU SAID, WATER AND ELECTRIC CHARGE BY THE METER. COMCAST CHARGES YOU JUST CAUSE. IF A METER EXISTED, ANOTHER COMPANY WOULD COME OUT WITH A MONTHLY FEE + CHARGE BY THE METER OVER A CERTAIN LIMIT. IF THEY USE A METER, THEY ARE JEOPARDIZING THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

LIKE YOU SAID, WATER AND ELECTRIC CHARGE BY THE METER.

COMCAST CHARGES YOU JUST CAUSE.

IF A METER EXISTED, ANOTHER COMPANY WOULD COME OUT WITH A MONTHLY FEE + CHARGE BY THE METER OVER A CERTAIN LIMIT.

]]> By: Austin Bandwidth Hog Claims Time Warner Cable Cut Him Off | tech.shaundunne.com http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-939947 Austin Bandwidth Hog Claims Time Warner Cable Cut Him Off | tech.shaundunne.com Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:15:29 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-939947 [...] by one-fourth or even one-third. His service was subsequently reconnected Wednesday evening. He was not given a way to track his usage, nor was he given a firm cap for his top-of-the-line Turbo subscription for which Howard pays $41 a [...] [...] by one-fourth or even one-third. His service was subsequently reconnected Wednesday evening. He was not given a way to track his usage, nor was he given a firm cap for his top-of-the-line Turbo subscription for which Howard pays $41 a [...]

]]> By: Austin Bandwidth Hog Claims Time Warner Cable Cut Him Off http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-939924 Austin Bandwidth Hog Claims Time Warner Cable Cut Him Off Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:36:24 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-939924 [...] by one-fourth or even one-third. His service was subsequently reconnected Wednesday evening. He was not given a way to track his usage, nor was he given a firm cap for his top-of-the-line Turbo subscription for which Howard pays $41 a [...] [...] by one-fourth or even one-third. His service was subsequently reconnected Wednesday evening. He was not given a way to track his usage, nor was he given a firm cap for his top-of-the-line Turbo subscription for which Howard pays $41 a [...]

]]> By: clear http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-937960 clear Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:00:47 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-937960 I do not like the monopoly cable making rules and laws that affect us all as users. How do we contact the FCC to stop this kind of nonsense? I do not like the monopoly cable making rules and laws that affect us all as users. How do we contact the FCC to stop this kind of nonsense?

]]> By: This is crap http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-935464 This is crap Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:09:57 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-935464 This whole metered internet usage spiel is just crap. It's no different than metering my cell phone usage. I almost never use my cell phone, 30 minutes a month at most. I still get bills that say I was on the phone for 800 minutes in one phone call to one phone number. So much for accurate company meters. This is nothing more than rape of the consumers plain and simple. It doesn't cost them any more for the increased usage. They are making more money than ever before with more customers signing up every day to use their services. This is just more outrageous bull shite from greedy corporations. This whole metered internet usage spiel is just crap. It’s no different than metering my cell phone usage. I almost never use my cell phone, 30 minutes a month at most. I still get bills that say I was on the phone for 800 minutes in one phone call to one phone number. So much for accurate company meters. This is nothing more than rape of the consumers plain and simple. It doesn’t cost them any more for the increased usage. They are making more money than ever before with more customers signing up every day to use their services. This is just more outrageous bull shite from greedy corporations.

]]> By: Brits Get Broadband Bill of Rights - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-916563 Brits Get Broadband Bill of Rights - GigaOM Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:43:11 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-916563 [...] the U.K. population have signed up, according to Ofcom. ISPs must also disclose bandwidth caps, and when customers might be nearing such caps. Additionally, those participating in the code need to allow customers to downgrade their service [...] [...] the U.K. population have signed up, according to Ofcom. ISPs must also disclose bandwidth caps, and when customers might be nearing such caps. Additionally, those participating in the code need to allow customers to downgrade their service [...]

]]> By: AT&T Trials Tiered Broadband in Nevada - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-910239 AT&T Trials Tiered Broadband in Nevada - GigaOM Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:50:42 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-910239 [...] company would also offer larger tiers. The filing states that AT&T will also offer customers a meter to show them how much bandwidth they have consumed, which is more than Comcast (with its 250 GB cap) or even Time Warner have offered.  AT&T also [...] [...] company would also offer larger tiers. The filing states that AT&T will also offer customers a meter to show them how much bandwidth they have consumed, which is more than Comcast (with its 250 GB cap) or even Time Warner have offered.  AT&T also [...]

]]> By: Jerry http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-904455 Jerry Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:28:18 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-904455 Since when did; "UNLIMITED INTERNET ACCESS," and "ALWAYS ON," mean 250gb per month? I have 3 kids that all like to play games on the internet, to name one of those games, "World of Warcraft." This is why I bought into the Comcast high speed cable. Now you say that you have "FAILED" at your part of the bargain, and cannot deliver what you had "advertised and promised" to the public. FALSE ADVERTISING IS ILLEGAL Since "YOU" have "FAILED" you want to change the rules to suit your FAILURE... HEY COMCAST, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? YOU CANNOT JUST CHANGE THE RULES AND NEGATE YOUR OBLIGATIONS LIKE THE POLITICIANS DO. I think it's time to sell your million dollar homes and FOREIGN Luxury cars... If you can't deliver the product you DO NOT deserve that multi-million dollar paycheck! You are all just more, "corporate thieving bast--ds!" I hope you are all proud as this is the perfect example of why America is in the sorry shape it is in right now. The executives sucking every penny they can out of the company and saying they can't afford to pay the employees! Then you jerks cut the jobs to make the numbers look good, and give yourselves a fat bonus. All at the X-employees expense... We see it, your not slipping by un-noticed! Your just another ENRON in the making... Since when did;

“UNLIMITED INTERNET ACCESS,” and “ALWAYS ON,” mean 250gb per month?

I have 3 kids that all like to play games on the internet, to name one of those games, “World of Warcraft.”

This is why I bought into the Comcast high speed cable.

Now you say that you have “FAILED” at your part of the bargain, and cannot deliver what you had “advertised and promised” to the public.

FALSE ADVERTISING IS ILLEGAL

Since “YOU” have “FAILED” you want to change the rules to suit your FAILURE…

HEY COMCAST, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

YOU CANNOT JUST CHANGE THE RULES AND NEGATE YOUR OBLIGATIONS LIKE THE POLITICIANS DO.

I think it’s time to sell your million dollar homes and FOREIGN Luxury cars…

If you can’t deliver the product you DO NOT deserve that multi-million dollar paycheck!

You are all just more, “corporate thieving bast–ds!”

I hope you are all proud as this is the perfect example of why America is in the sorry shape it is in right now.

The executives sucking every penny they can out of the company and saying they can’t afford to pay the employees!

Then you jerks cut the jobs to make the numbers look good, and give yourselves a fat bonus. All at the X-employees expense…

We see it, your not slipping by un-noticed!

Your just another ENRON in the making…

]]> By: John http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-901982 John Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:49:39 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-901982 Good bye Sling Box, you were fun while you lasted. Good bye to all promosing media content businesses that will push me towards my cap. Btw, where the heck are the anti-trust lawsuits... Comcast is using their Internet service to weed out competition to their television service. If that's not a possible anti-trust issue I don't know what is. Good bye Sling Box, you were fun while you lasted. Good bye to all promosing media content businesses that will push me towards my cap.

Btw, where the heck are the anti-trust lawsuits… Comcast is using their Internet service to weed out competition to their television service. If that’s not a possible anti-trust issue I don’t know what is.

]]> By: What Should You Know: Net Neutrality | What Should You Know (WSYK) http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-900175 What Should You Know: Net Neutrality | What Should You Know (WSYK) Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:18:44 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-900175 [...] Now Watching So when someone comes up to you and asks if you know about Net Neutrality. This is what you should say...Story links:Save The InternetShould the Government Regulate Net Neutrality?Net NeutralityMemo To Comcast: Show Us the Meter for Metered Broadband [...] [...] Now Watching So when someone comes up to you and asks if you know about Net Neutrality. This is what you should say…Story links:Save The InternetShould the Government Regulate Net Neutrality?Net NeutralityMemo To Comcast: Show Us the Meter for Metered Broadband [...]

]]> By: Fractured Thoughts from Buckyben » Comcast, Time Warner and Frontier, put a cap on usage and lawmakers do nothing apparent http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-897809 Fractured Thoughts from Buckyben » Comcast, Time Warner and Frontier, put a cap on usage and lawmakers do nothing apparent Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:21:13 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-897809 [...] http://gigaom.com [...] [...] http://gigaom.com [...]

]]> By: WebbAlert - September 2, 2008 | TechTV Update http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-897334 WebbAlert - September 2, 2008 | TechTV Update Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:51:49 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-897334 [...] usage. Since it might be easy to exceed the limit, some say Comcast should provide an official usage meter. Some musicians think iTunes is hurting album sales, and so they’re turning their shoulder [...] [...] usage. Since it might be easy to exceed the limit, some say Comcast should provide an official usage meter. Some musicians think iTunes is hurting album sales, and so they’re turning their shoulder [...]

]]> By: Jack http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-896705 Jack Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:07:14 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-896705 KURT - at least you are lucky enough to have DSL as backup. I do not, 100ft to far. KURT – at least you are lucky enough to have DSL as backup. I do not, 100ft to far.

]]> By: Kurt http://gigaom.com/2008/08/28/memo-to-comcast-show-me-the-meter-for-metered-broadband/#comment-896701 Kurt Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:36:33 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/?p=19313#comment-896701 My Comcast HS internet account was cancelled on Monday 8/25, a few days before they announced the new bandwidth cap policy. There are 2 problems at work here - 1, that they refused to tell me how much I used, or what the invisible line was that I crossed. Ok, so they've rectified this glaring policy problem. However, what about their willful deceiving of me and others, into thinking we were getting unlimited service, INCLUDING unlimited bandwidth usage. Forget what the policy states, I'm talking about what their customer service reps tell new/potential customers when they are signing up for new service. Want concrete evidence? Ok, on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2 days after my service was cancelled, I logged onto to Comcast's online chat help. I chatted with a CSR named Maria, and here's an excerpt from our chat: --- analyst Maria.25372 has entered room Maria.25372(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:44:19 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))> Hello Kurt_, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Maria.25372. Please give me one moment to review your information. Maria.25372(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:44:26 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))> Hi there! How are you doing today? Kurt_(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:44:44 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))> hello, I'm wondering, if I sign up for high speed internet service, how often I can use it? Kurt_(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:44:59 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))> I mean are there any limits? Maria.25372(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:45:38 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))> Kurt, once you have signed up for our Internet Services, you can use it 24/7. Maria.25372(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:45:47 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))> There are no limits on the usage of the service. Kurt_(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:46:29 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))> Are you sure, because I've read on the net about some peoples accounts getting canceled because of excessive bandwidth usage, is this not true? Maria.25372(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:46:32 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))> You can create up to 7 email accounts with the Comcast service; 1 primary (owner) account and up to 6 additional accounts. Each Comcast email address has 250MB space for email, up to a total of 1.75GB across all 7 possible email accounts. Maria.25372(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:47:48 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))> There is no bandwidth usage limit, Kurt. --- (snip) So, there you have it. I then informed Maria that my account had just been canceled because of "excessive bandwidth usage" and asked her to explain that. She asked for my account number, I gave it, then she said "one moment, let me check on that" and then came back copying and pasting relevant parts of the acceptable use policy. She then apologized for her mistake. But the damage was done - what if I really was a new customer, I would have been totally deceived. Comcast does not (or at least DID not) inform their CSRs of their policies. This is not right. When I signed up for service 4 years ago, I certainly thought i was getting completely unlimited internet access. My account is suspended for one year, and now I've had to sign up for Verizon DSL, the ONLY other choice I have. My Comcast HS internet account was cancelled on Monday 8/25, a few days before they announced the new bandwidth cap policy. There are 2 problems at work here – 1, that they refused to tell me how much I used, or what the invisible line was that I crossed. Ok, so they’ve rectified this glaring policy problem. However, what about their willful deceiving of me and others, into thinking we were getting unlimited service, INCLUDING unlimited bandwidth usage. Forget what the policy states, I’m talking about what their customer service reps tell new/potential customers when they are signing up for new service. Want concrete evidence? Ok, on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2 days after my service was cancelled, I logged onto to Comcast’s online chat help. I chatted with a CSR named Maria, and here’s an excerpt from our chat:

—
analyst Maria.25372 has entered room

Maria.25372(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:44:19 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))>

Hello Kurt_, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Maria.25372. Please give me one moment to review your information.

Maria.25372(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:44:26 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))>

Hi there! How are you doing today?

Kurt_(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:44:44 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))>

hello, I’m wondering, if I sign up for high speed internet service, how often I can use it?

Kurt_(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:44:59 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))>

I mean are there any limits?

Maria.25372(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:45:38 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))>

Kurt, once you have signed up for our Internet Services, you can use it 24/7.

Maria.25372(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:45:47 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))>

There are no limits on the usage of the service.

Kurt_(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:46:29 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))>

Are you sure, because I’ve read on the net about some peoples accounts getting canceled because of excessive bandwidth usage, is this not true?

Maria.25372(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:46:32 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))>

You can create up to 7 email accounts with the Comcast service; 1 primary (owner) account and up to 6 additional accounts. Each Comcast email address has 250MB space for email, up to a total of 1.75GB across all 7 possible email accounts.

Maria.25372(Wed Aug 27 2008 19:47:48 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))>

There is no bandwidth usage limit, Kurt.

— (snip)

So, there you have it. I then informed Maria that my account had just been canceled because of “excessive bandwidth usage” and asked her to explain that. She asked for my account number, I gave it, then she said “one moment, let me check on that” and then came back copying and pasting relevant parts of the acceptable use policy. She then apologized for her mistake. But the damage was done – what if I really was a new customer, I would have been totally deceived. Comcast does not (or at least DID not) inform their CSRs of their policies. This is not right. When I signed up for service 4 years ago, I certainly thought i was getting completely unlimited internet access. My account is suspended for one year, and now I’ve had to sign up for Verizon DSL, the ONLY other choice I have.

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