Comcast Tells Government That Its Data Caps Aren't Actually "Data Caps" 341
mpicpp (3454017) writes with this excerpt from Ars Technica about Comcast's data caps that aren't data caps:Customers must pay more if they exceed limits — but it's not a cap, Comcast says. For the past couple of years, Comcast has been trying to convince journalists and the general public that it doesn't impose any "data caps" on its Internet service. ... That's despite the fact that Comcast in some cities enforces limits on the amount of data customers can use and issues financial penalties for using more than the allotment. Comcast has said this type of billing will probably roll out to its entire national footprint within five years, perhaps alongside a pricier option to buy unlimited data. ... Comcast's then-new approach was touted to "effectively offer unlimited usage of our services because customers will have the ability to buy as much data as they want."
come on Google Fiber (Score:5, Informative)
Re:come on Google Fiber (Score:4, Informative)
The problem is, Google Fiber isn't some product they're rolling out slowly, but eventually to the whole country. Instead, it's jut one of their little experiments. As much as we'd all love them to, Google has expressed no interest in becoming America's ISP (or at least not any time soon).
Re:But what of Netflix (Score:4, Informative)
Re:What's the max bandwidth of coax cable? (Score:5, Informative)
If I recall correctly, the same amount of space a television channel uses is around 10-12Mb/s of continuous data. Current modems can bond 12+ channels. The more that people stream instead of requiring live tv, the more channels can be allocated to internet. Each modem can be configured to use different channels. While there is one piece of wire from the street to your house, there are many piece of coax AND backup unused cable throughout your neighborhood. Each neighborhood has a junction with bazoodles of cable to it and probably fiber.
So the short answer is they can allocate gigabits of data streams in your neighborhood, and with numerous backbone options from there to the main office they have all the bandwidth they need for the foreseeable future. And it doesn't 'run out', it just gets slower at the shared wire level for the user. Which is why netflix looks like crap at 7PM every night.
Re: I get it. (Score:2, Informative)
"Gas" is short for Gasoline, just like "Petrol" is short for Petroleum.
Re:Sigh (Score:5, Informative)
Reality...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/l... [talkingpointsmemo.com]
The House Ethics Committee has quietly done away with the requirement that lawmakers disclose their all-expense-paid trips on annual financial forms, National Journal reported on Monday.
Trips paid for by private groups are now no longer required to be noted on annual financial-disclosure forms filed by Congress members, according to the Journal. The move was never announced publicly; the Journal said that it discovered the change in a review of the disclosure filings.
It's called 'bundling'. (Score:4, Informative)
I get the "bought" part, that is after all how lobbying works (it's not a secret), but how does one "sell" a politician? Do you mean that political parties are pimping out their people?
It's called 'bundling'. [wikipedia.org], where existing wealthy donors who have already contributed the legal maximum 'sell' the candidate to their friends and business associates, effectively leveraging their personal connections and access to shepherd more funds to the campaign.
What has more political clout than one maxed-out contributor when it comes time to make policy? A fucking cartel of maxed-out contributors.
Given that your average congresscritter spends ~20% of their working hours trolling for contributions just to have a decent shot at getting re-elected, you can imagine how influential successful bundlers are.
Makes you wonder just how much we'd save by spending a couple billion a year on public financing of elections.
Re:Sigh (Score:5, Informative)
The House Ethics Committee has quietly done away with the requirement that lawmakers disclose their all-expense-paid trips on annual financial forms, National Journal reported on Monday.
Two things:
1. They were still disclosing these trips on other forms that had to be filed sooner.
2. They've rescinded the change: http://www.nationaljournal.com... [nationaljournal.com]
Both points are visible in the page for the National Journal article: http://www.nationaljournal.com... [nationaljournal.com]
Re:Sigh (Score:4, Informative)
I have never seen a commercial for home internet service that is explicitly unlimited it's usually:
Blazing* Fast** High-Speed*** Internet**** Up to***** 50****** megs******* for only******** $69.99 per month*********
* Our lawyers advise us to tell you that we are not liable any house fires that may or may not be related to your internet equipment.
** When compared to dial up internet from 20 years ago
*** Only available during off-peak hours
**** Until we decide to deny access to websites that don't pay us for the privilege of being carried to our customers
***** But never actually anywhere near....
****** Random number picked out of a hat, you'll never actually get this
******* Bits? Bytes? Who cares! (Personal story: I asked the Comcast salesmen if he meant megabits or megabytes when he said "50 megs" and he had no idea...)
******** Introductory rate for new customers only. We will double the rates in 3 months after joining
********* Plus taxes, fees, extra charges, and tribute payments