Cable Companies Shut Off High Volume Internet Users

[The Straight Story]

Cable Companies Shut Off High Volume Internet Users

WASHINGTON -- Some cable customers who use the Internet a lot are finding themselves without service.

Comcast has cut off the Internet service of some high-bandwidth users, saying they hog Internet capacity and slow down the network for other customers.

So far, only Comcast customers have been cut off. The company said only a small fraction have been disconnected for using too much bandwidth, but it won't reveal its limits.

Analysts said such caps could become more common.

Cable companies are facing tough competition in the high-speed Internet market. AT&T and Verizon are installing new cables capable of carrying more Internet traffic.

http://www.nbc4.com/consumer/14064044/detail.html?dl=headlineclick

[Selatius]

1. Is this legal as far as contract law goes?

Does a clause exist in the contract that allows comcast to cut service if you go beyond a certain amount of information transfered? If not, could it be a breach of contract?

[The Straight Story]

2. No idea honestly, but a very good question

Will see if I can dig up something on it.

[AndyA]

6. I would think if that were the case, the limit of bandwidth used would have to be agreed upon

in the contract. Otherwise, the consumer wouldn't know what they're getting for their money.

Oops...I forgot...in the Bush economy, consumers don't matter, just the corporations. :blush:

[dweller]

7. 'cut service if you go beyond a certain amount'

"The company said only a small fraction have been disconnected for using too much bandwidth, but it won't reveal its limits."

who knows?

dp

[Mandate My Ass]

3. I despise Comcast but I'm stuck with them

My ex ruined my credit so I can't get a contract with another cable provider. I pay exorbitant prices for high speed internet, about 3X more per month than Verizon charges.

Not to mention how they censored anti-war ads in 2003.

[rurallib]

4. Sounds like an American business solution. Give what you got

nat what they want.

[liberal N proud]

5. Is it in the users contract that they are only allowed so much band width?

I would think that if they are paying their bill and there is nothing restricting the amount they use the net, then Comcast would need to provide the service as paid.

I know that Time Warner has reduced the size of our mail box on the server since they assumed our service from Adelphia but they deny that they made any changes. My evidence is the mailbox full messages I get if I don't check my mail on a nearly daily basis.
I could go a week with Adelphia before getting a message and my volume of mail has not increased.

[Cathyclysmic]

8. I wonder, could this be a way to deter bittorrent usage?

I'm sure there are plenty of users who stay logged on constantly, downloading files and allowing their files to be downloaded.

[LSK]

9. MEANWHILE, former Soviet Bloc cities get FREE WIRELESS

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,502322,00.html

[Raejeanowl]

10. It's Just Another Company Throttling Customers...

...who make optimum use of what was offered and mutually agreed.

(Repo man: Hey, we didn't mean you could actually keep driving the car once you paid for it!)

Some of those early seductions away from DSL and dial-up played fast and loose with the term "unlimited access." I'd love to see a Comcast customer take them to court and feed them their own PR for lunch.

[AX10]

11. Maybe we will have to switch to DSL.

Seeing that the telecom companies are installing new lines to handle the increased capacity, maybe we will have to go to them for service.