Posted by Don M. on 11/02/07 02:53

"Jyeshta" <whatever@twixtntween.com> wrote in message
news:joh4i39etcat3hbnfkuc6plk57rdkjek5a@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:50:53 -0700, "Don M."
> <newsreader@nospam4fineartsnospam.com> wrote:
>
> Hi again, Don,
>
> >Take a look at this article:
> >"Directing Traffic: How was Comcast's traffic interference confirmed?"
> >http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20071020/NEWS/710200361
>
> This one I had already read. The passage below didn't seem
> applicable (yet) because while using uTorrent, my uplink
> bandwidth was normal:
>
> "Douglas would not specify what the company means by "access" --
> Comcast subscribers can download BitTorrent files without
> hindrance. Only uploads of complete files are blocked or delayed
> by the company, as indicated by AP tests."
>
> So I thought, I'll wait and see if this starts happening in my
> area. Actually, they seem to be pretty lenient here for the time
> being. I'd have expected them to re-throttle almost immediately
> after I changed my ports in WinMX yesterday, but they haven't
> yet.
>
> >And then this::
> >"Competition drives down Comcast profit"
> >http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20071026/NEWS/710260381
>
> What do you think might result from this? If they'd provide as
> much bandwidth as I want, I'd be willing to pay a little more
> (even though it already costs a fortune), if I'm able to.
>
========

Some companies get you hooked, degrade basic services, then ask you to sign up for premium
services.

$560 million is still a good chunk of profit. Comcast will probably need to opt for
controlled growth and entice current customers to subscribe to their package deals
(digital phone, cable tv, internet access) from which is a bit inconvenient to get out of.
Once in a while, they increase downstream bandwidth at no additional cost so most
customers don't become too upset if there's a small rate increase later on. Plus their
free giganews account is worth a few dollars to those who download from Usenet.
For a while at least, competition will a good thing if you convince your neighbors to
switch to the competitor. :)

This just in:
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Consumer-Groups-Want-Comcast-Fined-For-Traffic-Shaping-
89024
If this effort succeeds, be ready to pay more regardless of what kind of service you end
up getting.

Thanks for the kind wishes, by the way.

Don

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