Comcast to switch to time-based throttling
updated 05:40 pm EDT, Wed August 20, 2008
Comcast Time Throttling
Comcast's proposed software-independent throttling method will involve time-based slowdowns of Internet service, company senior VP Mitch Bowling says in an interview with Bloomberg. The new method will actively monitor subscribers' overall cable Internet connection use and slow it down for between 10 to 20 minutes if a user is creating a problem on the network, returning to slow it again if their particular habits continue to affect others in the area.
The slowdown is allegedly mild and would still qualify as regular high-speed Internet access. It would equal a "a really good DSL experience," Bowling claims without providing exact speeds.
This approach follows a formal FCC ruling banning Comcast's old filtering, which the US government body said unfairly punished specific content formats that included BitTorrent. The FCC also accused Comcast of deceptive practices by denying any throttling or similar techniques until investigators confirmed the behavior, which forced Comcast to admit what it argues are "reasonable" steps to take care of its network.
Such methods as the time-based method suggested by Comcast are potentially controversial as they may interfere with legitimate services that depend on a guaranteed level of bandwidth for a long amount of time, such as streaming movies.
Comcast Stinks
08/20, 06:36pm reply
I'm glad I just switched to Fios.... I for one was sick of Comast's crappy service.
PHoynak
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2000
re: Phoynak
08/20, 06:46pm reply
I am with you.. Hail FIOS! :)
eldarkus
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2004
comcastic
08/20, 06:48pm reply
it's craptastic!
climacs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
hey comcast
08/20, 06:50pm reply
Why don't you spend some money making your network fast enough and giving good service instead of making it suck for the people who want to use it.
If you do the math, they basically limit you to like ISDN speeds before they stop cutting you off.
Bunch of losers. I hope you go out of business.
zaghahzag
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Aug 2006
waiting
08/20, 07:04pm reply
Once Verision has coverage in southern Forth Worth, I will switch immediately.
lamewing
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2004
Comcast STINKS!
08/20, 07:15pm reply
I can't WAIT for FIOS to come to my area so I can ditch Crapcast. This throttling business is the lazy way of "taking care" of their network. Instead of bolstering the infrastructure to support its customers, it resorts to this child-like behavior.
Broadband in general in the US is in a sad, sad state compared to the rest of the (tech-savvy) world. We are way behind. And what Comcast is doing just keeps us further behind.
DOWN WITH COMCAST!!! Viva los FIOS !!!
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
Who are they kidding?
08/20, 08:48pm reply
There already so damn slow, this will just be an excuse for them.
syzygi
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
So
08/20, 09:20pm reply
If the network access you paid for runs slower, does your bill follow suit? No? Shocking.
Comcast, AT&T, all the others hate Network Neutrality and are trying to chip and chip away at the service to customers. ***holes.
dimmer
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2006
Don't celebrate so fast
08/20, 09:35pm reply
Verizon is not much better as a company. In fact, none of the major broadband ISPs are all that good.
Titanium Man
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
I jsut switched 2 Comcast
08/20, 10:34pm reply
I tried to get AT&T UVerse, but on two separate install dates, six weeks apart, they couldn't match the address of my house to the address of their wiring system. The difference? One set of records had Drive at the end of my address, and the other didn't. I got sick of the incompetance and moved all my services over the Comcast. I figured it would be okay after the "no throttling" rulings were handed down. Maybe not.
Zaren
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001