Posted by Jyeshta on 11/02/07 17:56

On Thu, 1 Nov 2007 18:53:20 -0800, "Don M."
<newsreader@nospam4fineartsnospam.com> wrote:

>"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.

They have a massive advertising campaign on TV for that, and for
everything else. I'd never get Comcast phone. It's the internet
service that's inconvenient to get out of if you're stupid enough
[like me] to have used your Comcast email address for online
transactions.

>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.

That depends... they only give 2GB per month. If you're into
movies, that's not much.

>For a while at least, competition will a good thing if you convince your neighbors to
>switch to the competitor. :)

Yes.

>This just in:
>http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Consumer-Groups-Want-Comcast-Fined-For-Traffic-Shaping-
>89024

The link didn't work; now I see why. I need to try again doing
copy/paste.

>If this effort succeeds, be ready to pay more regardless of what kind of service you end
>up getting.

Well, as I said, there are a few alternatives. If I get
disgusted enough with Comcast, I'll switch if a competitor gets
better customer ratings.

>Thanks for the kind wishes, by the way.

You're very welcome. :-)

>Don

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