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forest444

(5,902 posts)
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 08:58 PM Nov 2015

Leaked Comcast Docs: Data Caps Have Nothing to Do With Network Congestion.

Source: Philadelphia Magazine

Comcast’s new data caps for Internet usage aren’t meant to keep its network running smoothly. Instead, the goal is “fairness and providing a more flexible policy to our customers,” according to leaked Comcast instructional documents found on Reddit on Friday.

Comcast has implemented four different data usage trials in the United States — and the most recent plans charge users $10 for every 50 GB of data they use over the 300 GB threshold. The program is expanding to Arkansas and Virginia December 1.

In the leaked documents, Comcast specifically tells customer-service reps not to say "the program is about congestion management." It also tells them not to use the term "data cap."

To be fair, Comcast won't charge you for the first three times you exceed 300 GB, and will send you a courtesy ‘in-browser’ notice and an email letting you know when you reach 90% of your monthly data usage plan amount. You can also elect to receive notifications at as low as 50% of your monthly plan.

"This plan sets up a mechanism that those who use more, pay more and those who use less, pay less," Charlie Douglas, executive director of corporate communications at Comcast said in an interview on Saturday.

On the leaked documents, however, Douglas said: "Just like we’re educating customers, we’re also educating care agents. Everything in those documents is consistent with everything we’re saying both internally and externally."

Read more: http://www.phillymag.com/business/2015/11/07/comcast-leak-data-cap/



It's not the money, it's the principle (don't cha know).
36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Leaked Comcast Docs: Data Caps Have Nothing to Do With Network Congestion. (Original Post) forest444 Nov 2015 OP
It's about making up for lost revenue EL34x4 Nov 2015 #1
Thanks for the background, EL. forest444 Nov 2015 #2
Some test regions are offered unlimited data for a flat rate. EL34x4 Nov 2015 #10
They are used to $90 per month for crap channels. gvstn Nov 2015 #7
The only way to get around the caps is to replace Xfinity with Comcast Business Class Paulie Nov 2015 #25
When people thought cutting their cord they beat the cable company yeoman6987 Nov 2015 #26
The more they do, the more they will lose quakerboy Nov 2015 #35
Well that could change every thing yeoman6987 Nov 2015 #36
I call that "consumer mining". newthinking Nov 2015 #32
To be fair, Comcast EL34x4 Nov 2015 #33
$5 less, $30 more... seems fair (not)... Bilk, Bilk, Bilk. Kip Humphrey Nov 2015 #3
That was my impression as well, Kip. forest444 Nov 2015 #4
hardly wrong. They don't call it Comcrap for nothing. Kip Humphrey Nov 2015 #6
Ha! forest444 Nov 2015 #8
The posted on the 6th Not really LBN TexasProgresive Nov 2015 #5
‘in-browser’ notice? how exactly is that accomplished? fbc Nov 2015 #9
It's a modem quarantine. christx30 Nov 2015 #12
Jesus. I think I finally learned how to spell dystopia. forest444 Nov 2015 #16
Most cable companies do that christx30 Nov 2015 #17
Ah, the new normal. forest444 Nov 2015 #18
They've been doing it for years. christx30 Nov 2015 #19
I hear you. But do you think such quarantines could spell content censorship in one form or another? forest444 Nov 2015 #20
Like could a cable company set up their modems christx30 Nov 2015 #22
Thanks - and God help us all. forest444 Nov 2015 #24
All page requests go through their servers so they can send you really whatever page they want NobodyHere Nov 2015 #15
Well, that sets up a potential for a "data war." If Comcast is going to charge X for Y amount of MADem Nov 2015 #11
That's great in areas where there's actual competition EL34x4 Nov 2015 #13
We're the same KatyMan Nov 2015 #31
Gee what a surprise! The BS is Comcastic! burfman Nov 2015 #14
Comcast would not call themselves a public utility CatholicEdHead Nov 2015 #21
If they try that, I will cancel. Fearless Nov 2015 #23
I'm glad I have Google Fiber. Better than the competition. -none Nov 2015 #27
Google Fiber can't expand quickly enough. Hosnon Nov 2015 #28
4K video Jesus Malverde Nov 2015 #29
Yep EL34x4 Nov 2015 #30
PR BS krkaufman Nov 2015 #34
 

EL34x4

(2,003 posts)
1. It's about making up for lost revenue
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 09:04 PM
Nov 2015

Too many people cancelling cable and going the streaming route. Comcast wasn't going to just roll over. Consumers should've saw this coming when "cutting the cord" became the latest rage. I know I did.

FWIW, I'm using 600-800 GB a month so I really hope Comcast offers an unlimited data plan. I'll pay the extra so I don't have to meter my usage.

forest444

(5,902 posts)
2. Thanks for the background, EL.
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 09:10 PM
Nov 2015

I believe the article mentioned that, yes, unlimited data plans will be offered for something like $30 a month.

Sounds reasonable - expect that it also sounds like a trojan horse, and that the ultimate goal is to gouge consumers (I hope I'm wrong about that).

 

EL34x4

(2,003 posts)
10. Some test regions are offered unlimited data for a flat rate.
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 09:44 PM
Nov 2015

Not all of them though. I'm fortunate to not currently live in one of Comcast's test regions and enjoy no data cap, but I see this coming to everyone eventually. I saw this coming the day I signed up for Netflix a few years back.

gvstn

(2,805 posts)
7. They are used to $90 per month for crap channels.
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 09:25 PM
Nov 2015

Now that we have the net why pay for those crap channels? They have to try to keep up revenue. But a $10 connection to the the net should not be raised to $90. They lost and should get used to it. We have got used to ubsurd cable rates for the last thirty years.

Paulie

(8,462 posts)
25. The only way to get around the caps is to replace Xfinity with Comcast Business Class
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 11:47 PM
Nov 2015

Business class for about $130/mo and no caps plus when you call support you get a person. This would be for data only.

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
26. When people thought cutting their cord they beat the cable company
Sun Nov 8, 2015, 12:48 AM
Nov 2015

I thought that was so absurd. Of course they were going to do this. We get 300 today and 150 in 3 years. It is impossible to beat them.

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
36. Well that could change every thing
Mon Nov 9, 2015, 11:21 PM
Nov 2015

But I'm not sure Google will continue free. Well see. I hope so.

newthinking

(3,982 posts)
32. I call that "consumer mining".
Sun Nov 8, 2015, 10:38 AM
Nov 2015

When they have a semi monopoly they can take advantage of it. Instead of innovating and working harder to build their bussiness many companies look for ways to gain "advantage" and exploit to harness more money from their customers.

 

EL34x4

(2,003 posts)
33. To be fair, Comcast
Sun Nov 8, 2015, 11:07 AM
Nov 2015

is looking at ways to provide increasingly faster internet service capable of meeting the demands of an increasingly streaming consumer base. And at least Comcast isn't giving us crap. Their Xfinity internet service is the best out there.

But, yes, "semi-monopoly" status has plagued cable customers since the days cable was first laid. Comcast (or whoever) dug the trenches and buried the pipe. If you want your TV and internet to come into your home via coaxial cable, your choices are limited.

forest444

(5,902 posts)
4. That was my impression as well, Kip.
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 09:13 PM
Nov 2015

It sounds like a trojan horse designed to win FEC (and customer) approval - only to later become a real budget-buster for all but the top 10% of households or so. Again, I hope I'm wrong there.

forest444

(5,902 posts)
8. Ha!
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 09:33 PM
Nov 2015

That's great!

Is there a Comcast customer horror story blog by that name? If not, you should jump on it!

 

fbc

(1,668 posts)
9. ‘in-browser’ notice? how exactly is that accomplished?
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 09:36 PM
Nov 2015

I guess they hijack a request made by your browser?

christx30

(6,241 posts)
12. It's a modem quarantine.
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 10:08 PM
Nov 2015

Once it's added, the browser will redirect from the page you want to go to the page they want to take you to. Once there, you see the message, and there is usually a "Click HERE to return to normal internet activities" link

christx30

(6,241 posts)
17. Most cable companies do that
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 10:53 PM
Nov 2015

at one point or another. Mine (TWC) will quarantine for abuse (copyright infringement), billing ("Pay your bill or we'll shut you off), or modem compliance (in several location, TWC increased internet speeds, and older modems can't handle the speeds).

forest444

(5,902 posts)
18. Ah, the new normal.
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 11:04 PM
Nov 2015

Looks like they found a way around the recent FCC net neutrality rules. They'll never call it censorship, of course - just a quarantine.

I'll tell you though, their complacency is making them sloppy. A PR spinmeister would have never allowed them to call it a quarantine.

"Optimization," perhaps?

christx30

(6,241 posts)
19. They've been doing it for years.
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 11:15 PM
Nov 2015

Doesn't really have anything to do with net neutrality. Just a way to get a customer's attention if mail and phone and other messages to the customer aren't working. People are very good at ignoring things that aren't right in their faces.

christx30

(6,241 posts)
22. Like could a cable company set up their modems
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 11:31 PM
Nov 2015

to redirect from, say, DU to another website? I suppose it's possible. I mean, programmers can make computers can do some pretty amazing things.
But for now, the quarantine is used for legitimate business practices. To get people to upgrade their modems, to get people to pay their bills, to get people to stop downloading movies and TV shows illegally. I guess, just like with anything else, as long as they use their powers for good, it'll be ok.

 

NobodyHere

(2,810 posts)
15. All page requests go through their servers so they can send you really whatever page they want
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 10:30 PM
Nov 2015

My current ISP does the same thing to let you know if you're reaching your limit. (Though one can opt out in my case).

MADem

(135,425 posts)
11. Well, that sets up a potential for a "data war." If Comcast is going to charge X for Y amount of
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 09:56 PM
Nov 2015

data, company Z just has to come on in and offer X minus a nice chunk of change to get people to switch.

Of course, then they'll all get together and price fix (and pretend they don't do that).

 

EL34x4

(2,003 posts)
13. That's great in areas where there's actual competition
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 10:20 PM
Nov 2015

In my neighborhood, if you want fast internet, Comcast is the only player in town.

All in all, I might be the only one with few complaints about Comcast. They've treated me well over the years. Recently my bill went up $40. I went in to their local office ready for a shouting match. No questions asked, they knocked $40 back off my bill and threw in HBO for two years. I never even raised my voice. I just asked them why my bill went up and that was that.

And their internet is pretty damn good. My family and I can stream in HD on 3 devices at the same time with no lag (hence my 600-800 GB data usage).

CatholicEdHead

(9,740 posts)
21. Comcast would not call themselves a public utility
Sat Nov 7, 2015, 11:30 PM
Nov 2015

They see themselves as a capitalistic corporation who can do whatever they please and charge whatever they want.

-none

(1,884 posts)
27. I'm glad I have Google Fiber. Better than the competition.
Sun Nov 8, 2015, 01:14 AM
Nov 2015

No caps that I know about. Twice as fast as what the competition calls fast.

 

EL34x4

(2,003 posts)
30. Yep
Sun Nov 8, 2015, 10:03 AM
Nov 2015

The industry is already looking at a "4K Christmas" this season. 60" 4K TVs have dropped below the $2000 mark. The selection of 1080p HDTVs at Best Buy is getting smaller and smaller, cheaper and cheaper as they try to push them out the door, freeing up shelf space.

The new 4K TVs are all smart with pre-loaded apps for Netflix, Youtube, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Go, and whatnot. Comcast is well-aware that a 300 GB limit is about to be drastically insufficient.

krkaufman

(13,429 posts)
34. PR BS
Mon Nov 9, 2015, 08:20 AM
Nov 2015
"This plan sets up a mechanism that those who use more, pay more and those who use less, pay less," Charlie Douglas, executive director of corporate communications at Comcast said in an interview on Saturday.


Given that all customers have been sharing the load equally up to this point, if Comcast is now going to begin charging customers who use more than expected bandwidth to pay more, then customers who are using less should start with reduced bills -- to adjust for the effective subsidy they've been paying to cover the excess use of the bandwidth hogs. Otherwise, the second half of Douglas' quote above is a lie -- as those who don't go over the limits will continue to pay exactly what they've been paying, and whatever rate increases are to come, rather than paying less.
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