Selected customers in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and Warrenton, Virginia, are expected to receive e-mails on Wednesday highlighting the program. The 30-day tests are expected to begin Thursday.
"Unless you are an extremely heavy user of internet resources (which is not likely) you will not notice any change to your internet experience during this test," Mitch Bowling, general manager of Comcast online services says in the e-mail. "At the busiest times of the day on our network (which could occur at any time), those very few disproportionately heavy users, who are doing things like conducting numerous or continuous large file transfers, may experience slightly longer response times for some online activities, until the period of network congestion ends."
The move is designed to set aside complaints that the Philadelphia-based company has been throttling BitTorrent data and other peer-to-peer traffic to manage congestion. Comcast's practices have been the subject of hearings before the Federal Communications Commission, which is set to announce new rules concerning the concept of net neutrality.
Comcast announced in March it was switching to a new network management technique by the end of the year for managing bandwidth use and congestion. The company said it was partnering with BitTorrent Inc. of San Francisco, to develop a neutral traffic-management protocol.
Given that peer-to-peer users are the biggest users of bandwidth, it remains to be seen who in practice the new tests would disrupt during congestion periods. For now, rules by the FCC give ISPs broad authority to manage traffic flows, although that might soon change.
Comcast's testing follows the announcement by rival Time Warner Cable, which is to begin tests with customers on Thursday with metered access to bandwidth under a plan in which bigger users would pay more. Comcast has also publicly endorsed a metering plan, but has not roled out one.
Comcast has come under the ire of many digital rights groups for its network management practices. And last week, hackers took out their revenge against Comcast and redirected the Comcast.net homepage for several hours. The FBI is probing the incident. No arrests have been made.
-
-
-
-
- beedee
- added this
- added June 05, 2008
- flag
-
Anyone who doubts that the big Telcos are colluding to destroy Net Neutrality better drink a big glass of STFU right now. This week Time Warner is also rolling out 'metered' internet usage in a test market in Texas.
The caps they are proposing will be tiered at monthly limits of 5GB and 15GB, which may sound like a lot, but when you consider the explosive growth of video streaming, which is nowhere near its peak, this is a ridiculously small amount of bandwidth. Now a lot of people actually think it's reasonable for ISPs to start charging subscribers more due to this increased strain on the network. As far as this strain goes, I call bullshit. These networks have MAJOR plans in the works to rollout HD streaming content and other VOD services. Do you really think they're going to limit you from purchasing these services by their arbitrary bandwidth caps?That's where net neutrality comes in. Once they've rolled out 'metered' usage and everyone starts having to keep a constant close watch on their usage, we're going to start see 'preferred partners' hook up with the major bandwidth providers whose content will get to bypass the meters. We as consumers will have absolutely no say in which sites are now off the meter and which ones will stay on, but I can guarantee you that none of them will be the little guys, the independent producers, people I hope like you and me.
-
Well that didn't take long, beedee! Okay, as we discussed/debated in the other thread, this is the EXPECTED behavior of a company like Comcast, whose sole purpose is to deliver maximum profit to shareholders within the limit of the law. While I respectfully disagree that the ISPs "are colluding to destroy Net Neutrality," I concede that that is the net effect of this logical next step in their corporate quests for profit.
So, in your view, what is the best strategy to combat this? Who/where/what can I tell everyone I know to call/go/do to make sure that the internet remains the source of free exchange of information that it is today?
-
All I expect is for everyone to start making noise to their reps in Congress to pre-empt any attempts by telcos to disregard their obligation to remain 'common carriers'.
Please call or fax your representative in Congress today and ask them to support The Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2008 (HR 5353).
If net neutrality is given the legal protections it deserves, then 'metering' will not be permitted to become the 'slow lane' that is at the heart of net neutrality.
-
I'd also like to share an email a friend of mine sent me in response to my postings on this topic:
"I thought you might find it interesting that what they drill into us in business school about the best way to build a business with long-term competitive advantages is to collude with our competitors and create an oligopoly, if a monopoly isn't possible."
So those of us who aren't obligated to put profit over propriety must take action to preserve the integrity of the Internet's egalitarian nature as a true meritocracy.
-
On some of the other blogs where I've posted this story there's a fair amount of resistance to the idea that metered usage and bandwidth caps directly relate to the issue of network neutrality. My point in sounding the alarm about these policies is that until we have solid regulations protecting net neutrality in place, we should view any attempts to cap or meter usage as the trojan horse that will be the 'slow lane', which goes right to the heart of net neutrality. Once these caps and limits are endured by the public long enough, without NN regulation, the broadband providers will be free to allow content providers of their choosing to bypass these caps and meters. It's really not that hard to see the logical conclusion of these telcos actions, absent any legal obligation to remain common carriers.
-
Just to drive the point home, I'm posting a video comment while I'm free from any 'metering' or bandwidth caps.
-
I'm worried.
Soon the internet will be like cell phones. Every time you turn a cell phone on....they're charging you. "Wanna use the number 5 on your dial pad? Well, that's gonna be an extra $10 a month!"
You know what's all ISP's big wet dream is:
$30 a month flat free for just BASIC access to the world wide web (5GB limit -- $25 surcharge for going over the limit up to 15GB and $55 for 15GB and up).
If you want to access websites that stream video or have flash animation, well, no problem young man! You'll want to upgrade to out $50 a month "Power User" rate that allow unlimited access to website that have video content!
Oh, but the "nickle and dime" cash flow revenue model won't stop there. Why should sending an email be "free" when we they can charge these very resonable rates?
.5 cent charge per email sent
.10 cent charge per email with an attachement under 500kb
.15 cent charge per email with an attachement over 500kb
----
Comcast and the others are drooling over the cell phone "nickle and dime" model.
What do you do with a cell phone? Pay a flat monthly rate for a set number of minutes.
But you pay extra if it's 1) out of state 2) out of network 3) a full moon 4) calling a differnt service provider 5) a day ending in "Y" etc, etc
Right now you can do EVERYTHING on the Net for one flat price.
You just know these guys are just waiting to change the "everything at one flat rate model" to a "every fracking mouse click has a charge associated with it" model.
-
pay as you go internet is coming soon!! yawza!!
-
Soon they'll charge people for posting. PWR. Per word rate.
-
Yayzers. \,,\ >.< /,,/
-
-
-
-
- Dmitri_Molotov
- 1 year ago
-
-
This is an OUTRAGE!!! Greedy damn corporations, taking away one of the greatest inventions of our time.
THE INTERNET SHOULD BELONG TO THE PEOPLE AND NOT JUST FOR THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA!
-
Good reason to switch from cable internet service I'd say.
That would be an even better test to find out how their profit margin goes without their customer base.
-
When will Fios be available in my region....I'm ready to switch.....or is Verizon.....wanting to choke the net as well
-
-
-
-
- silverex87
- 1 year ago
-
-
I subscribe to Comcast ... this and they're censoring the 'net has me thinking I'll find another carrier ... but I live out in the sticks (south of the Twin Cities) and it'd be difficult to find other services. I'll have to get a satellite situated somewhere on my roof no doubt. Meh.
-
-
-
-
- Amber_LaStrega
- 1 year ago
-
-
As a Comcast subscriber, I'll be paying close attention to what transpires over the next few months.
I'm highly suspect of the FCC as it's currently under the control of the most corrupt US administration in history. -
The FCC is loaded full of Bush appointees. Who, by the way, are very selective in their enforcement of the code.
Sadly, this is what seems to happen to all new mediums of communication. Like the television or the radio before it, soon the government will regulate in favor of corporations instead of civilians in a joint effort to control opinions and make profits.
That is, unless we do something about it.
-
The National Conference on Media Reform is taking place right now. Anyone (hopefully everyone) concerned about these and other media issues can keep up with it right at their site. Interesting fact: Current's Anthony Marshall is moderating a panel there on Sunday (see their schedule, which is downloadable). As for Comcast trying a " 'net neutrality" test? What a load of crap!! They're testing it to see what they will come up with that's completely against the true purpose of " 'net neutrality." It won't be providing internet for all, that's for sure. It will be internet to fatten their profit coffers.
-
Anyone who cares about this issue should be really glad that Obama is our nominee. In this interview he expresses his unequivocal support for the need to preserve and protect net neutrality:
"I will take a backseat to no one in my commitment to network neutrality. The Internet is the most open network in history. We have to keep it that way. I will prevent network providers from discriminating in ways that limit the freedom of expression on the Internet. Because most Americans only have a choice of only one or two broadband carriers, carriers are tempted to impose a toll charge on content and services, discriminating against websites that are unwilling to pay for equal treatment. This could create a two-tier Internet in which websites with the best relationships with network providers can get the fastest access to consumers, while all competing websites remain in a slower lane. Such a result would threaten innovation, the open tradition and architecture of the Internet, and competition among content and backbone providers. It would also threaten the equality of speech through which the Internet has begun to transform American political and cultural discourse. Accordingly, network providers should not be allowed to charge fees to privilege the content or applications of some web sites and Internet applications over others. This principle will ensure that the new competitors, especially small or non-profit speakers, have the same opportunity as incumbents to innovate on the Internet and to reach large audiences. I will protect the Internet’s traditional openness to innovation and creativity and ensure that it remains a platform for free speech and innovation that will benefit consumers and our democracy."
-
Nice, one more reason to vote for Obama.
