Comcast's systematic DOCSIS 3.0 release is quietly expanding, as it was reportedly launched last week in more Chicago suburbs and it is believed the service will become available in San Francisco's Bay Area before week's end. Comcast met its target of bringing 20 percent coverage to its markets by the end of 2008, and is now on its way to update all of its technology to the faster Internet access by the end of 2010. The provider's fast Internet service promises to bring download speeds as fast as 50Mbps to subscribers under its Extreme 50 service plan.

Current subscribers in the newly added markets get upgraded for free, with those using the 6Mbps download/1Mbps upload service getting a 12Mbps/2Mbps upgrade, while the 8Mbps/2Mbps clients now receive 16Mbps/2Mbps speeds.

Along with the upgrades come two new levels, including the Ultra service offering 22Mbps download and 5Mbps upload speeds, and the Extreme 50 service that offers 50Mbps/10Mbps connections. The last two require subscribers to purchase a new modem. The services are priced at nearly $43, $53, $63 and $140, respectively.