Comcast responded to the FCC's order to revise and explain their network management practice.
It's simple, really. They're just going to cut you off at 250GB.
Now think about this. The original premise behind this issue was that Comcast was throttling BitTorrent traffic, and potentially cutting off a rival provider of video downloads. Now it's being turned into the more general issue of what is a fair amount of bandwidth.
But here are two points to consider when evaluating Comcast's announcement:
1. Comcast doesn't believe the FCC has the authority to tell them what to do on this. They may be right. The guys over at Technology Liberation Front have some good rationale behind it, and even Bill Kennard, former FCC chairman says that the Commission's K-Mart led majority (since when does Martin agree with Adelstein and Copps?) is probably overreaching.
2. Comcast doesn't care about downloads. They care about uploads. The big idea is that if you can create content, they are no longer the gatekeeper. Already discussion on FriendFeed is saying this. I'm not so sure it's true. Sure, Comcast has an interest in getting you to pay them for cable, etc, but how do they benefit from screwing their customers? Free Press says the real issue is one of monopoly. This might be true where Verizon and ATT haven't been able to roll out Fiber To The Home and where you can't get DBS or DSL, but Comcast doesn't have a monopoly on Internet access.
I would be more interested in discussing #1 than making emotional arguments about #2.
It's simple, really. They're just going to cut you off at 250GB.
Now think about this. The original premise behind this issue was that Comcast was throttling BitTorrent traffic, and potentially cutting off a rival provider of video downloads. Now it's being turned into the more general issue of what is a fair amount of bandwidth.
But here are two points to consider when evaluating Comcast's announcement:
1. Comcast doesn't believe the FCC has the authority to tell them what to do on this. They may be right. The guys over at Technology Liberation Front have some good rationale behind it, and even Bill Kennard, former FCC chairman says that the Commission's K-Mart led majority (since when does Martin agree with Adelstein and Copps?) is probably overreaching.
2. Comcast doesn't care about downloads. They care about uploads. The big idea is that if you can create content, they are no longer the gatekeeper. Already discussion on FriendFeed is saying this. I'm not so sure it's true. Sure, Comcast has an interest in getting you to pay them for cable, etc, but how do they benefit from screwing their customers? Free Press says the real issue is one of monopoly. This might be true where Verizon and ATT haven't been able to roll out Fiber To The Home and where you can't get DBS or DSL, but Comcast doesn't have a monopoly on Internet access.
I would be more interested in discussing #1 than making emotional arguments about #2.
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