AfterDawn: Tech news

Comcast has new traffic 'throttling' system

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Aug 2008 8:21 User comments (26)

Comcast has new traffic 'throttling' system Fresh off its 'scolding' for breaking net neutrality laws by throttling BitTorrent users, Comcast has a new proposition, one that will slow Internet for the ISP's heaviest users during periods of high traffic.
The heaviest users will see their top speeds reduced for periods lasting up to 20 minutes, which will allow service to other users to keep "flowing", says Mitch Bowling, Comcast's senior vice president and general manager of online services.

On August 1st the FCC found Comcast guilty of improperly blocking P2P and BitTorrent traffic and was given 30 days to provide details on how it throttled traffic as well as a proposal on how they would change the practices by the end of the year.



Bowling added that the new system would determine "in real time" whether certain users were causing traffic congestion and that the system would move away from focus on certain applications.

"If in fact a person is generating enough packets that they're the ones creating that situation, we will manage that consumer for the overall good of all of our consumers,"
Bowling said.

Comcast currently has 14.4 million Internet users in the US.

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26 user comments

120.8.2008 20:47

Quote:
"If in fact a person is generating enough packets that they're the ones creating that situation, we will manage that consumer for the overall good of all of our consumers," Bowling said
I think Stalin and Lenin said something eerily similar to this.

220.8.2008 21:02

Let's just hope that other providers doesn't try to follow suit with the way of handcuffs.I'm glad that I don't use Comcast.

320.8.2008 21:20

I am for open throttling, unless you are paying a double premium you should not get constant full speeds.

420.8.2008 21:50

No offense meant...but please, do explain.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 20 Aug 2008 @ 10:02

520.8.2008 21:57

Originally posted by 7thsinger:
Originally posted by ZippyDSM:
I am for open throttling, unless you are paying a double premium you should not get constant full speeds.
No offense meant...but please, do explain.
Open throttling is when they tell you what the limits are upfront and try their best to explain how they shape their traffic, say if you maintain a connection up/down of half or more the max speed for an hour or 2 or more, that max speed will be lowered for a amount of time, same for bandwidth say if you do 5GB total in less than 4 hours your max speed may be halved fora time, of course such limitation should be used on connections in the under 50$ range, when one is paying 50 or more its a premium connection and you are paying for the speed and stability of the connection.

The industry should focus on more plans, you have slower or more unstable in constant rate plans for under 10-50$, for 60+ you get more stable and constant speeds.

620.8.2008 21:59

Originally posted by ZippyDSM:
I am for open throttling, unless you are paying a double premium you should not get constant full speeds.
I am as well, but let's see if they don't just use this as an excuse to throttle P2P (and related) traffic under a thin disguise.

720.8.2008 22:06

Originally posted by ZippyDSM:
Originally posted by 7thsinger:
Originally posted by ZippyDSM:
I am for open throttling, unless you are paying a double premium you should not get constant full speeds.
No offense meant...but please, do explain.
Open throttling is when they tell you what the limits are upfront and try their best to explain how they shape their traffic, say if you maintain a connection up/down of half or more the max speed for an hour or 2 or more, that max speed will be lowered for a amount of time, same for bandwidth say if you do 5GB total in less than 4 hours your max speed may be halved fora time, of course such limitation should be used on connections in the under 50$ range, when one is paying 50 or more its a premium connection and you are paying for the speed and stability of the connection.

The industry should focus on more plans, you have slower or more unstable in constant rate plans for under 10-50$, for 60+ you get more stable and constant speeds.
Thank you for explaining kind sir.

But i can agree with Pop Smith in seeing how the throttling tactics typically used by Comcast can exceed what is generally acceptable by focusing on certain applications only.

That's where it seems to become downright "throttling" as opposed to traffic shaping.

820.8.2008 22:08

Quote:
Originally posted by ZippyDSM:
I am for open throttling, unless you are paying a double premium you should not get constant full speeds.
I am as well, but let's see if they don't just use this as an excuse to throttle P2P (and related) traffic under a thin disguise.
ya if you ever have had satilite DSL they way they shape traffic is atrocious, they need to tell people up front and lower the prices, have speed zones and guaranteed minuim rate say you have a 10$ 100-400KBPS plan with a miniuim rate of 150KBPS, while its worded to get in the masses anyone with a brain can tell your speeds will be around 150KBPS if not more, basically they will slot about 50-100KBPS of speed more than the plan minuim then shape traffic to the minuim.

then past the 50$ rates say for 10-20$ more you can get constant rates with a minuim of shaping, this makes the process better for both consumer and ISP.

I mean all you have to do is focus on bandwidth for shaping nothing more nothing less and then offer for 30-70 more for constant rate plans.

920.8.2008 22:10

Quote:
The heaviest users will see their top speeds reduced for periods lasting up to 20 minutes
I wonder if they envoke that policy in multiple consecutive sessions???

1020.8.2008 22:14

Quote:
Originally posted by ZippyDSM:
Originally posted by 7thsinger:
Originally posted by ZippyDSM:
I am for open throttling, unless you are paying a double premium you should not get constant full speeds.
No offense meant...but please, do explain.
Open throttling is when they tell you what the limits are upfront and try their best to explain how they shape their traffic, say if you maintain a connection up/down of half or more the max speed for an hour or 2 or more, that max speed will be lowered for a amount of time, same for bandwidth say if you do 5GB total in less than 4 hours your max speed may be halved fora time, of course such limitation should be used on connections in the under 50$ range, when one is paying 50 or more its a premium connection and you are paying for the speed and stability of the connection.

The industry should focus on more plans, you have slower or more unstable in constant rate plans for under 10-50$, for 60+ you get more stable and constant speeds.
Thank you for explaining kind sir.

But i can agree with Pop Smith in seeing how the throttling tactics typically used by Comcast can exceed what is generally acceptable by focusing on certain applications only.

That's where it seems to become downright "throttling" as opposed to traffic shaping.
currently they are treating the consumers like worthless sheeple, if they would offer better plan rates they would make more money, having 10 dailup users pay 10 a month for a basic 1.5Mbit line and use it like gloried dailup will get them more money than trotteling net geeks, hell charge twice as much for stable rates and the net geeks will pony up, I like fast stable net and am willing to pay for it..

1121.8.2008 00:16

Zippy your ridiculous. if i pay for a 10mb line i better get 10mb wether i am downloading a linux distro or sheepsex I PAID FOR IT

1221.8.2008 00:26

Originally posted by Hopium:
Zippy your ridiculous. if i pay for a 10mb line i better get 10mb wether i am downloading a linux distro or sheepsex I PAID FOR IT
under the fine print you pay whatever they are wiling to give you and if you do not like it you can go else only you can't because there is no real competition since the industry has the market cornered in 3 ways price, choice, and vague terms of service.

The industry is running a closed scam on the masses, what I am saying is that they are selling plans under to vague of a term of service, what they should do is refocus on having a slower/cheaper plans to cater to most of the populace who dose not want a constant data rate or see the internet that much and then offer constant data rate plans at 10-30 more than there regulate medium and top tier plans, this will remove or lower the need to shape traffic because people are paying more for business like plans.

What you want is a freebie and what they are "advertising", look at the fine print and you will see they do not have to do anything to maintain a decent connection for you, what I want is info up front better low end plans to kill out dailup and better medium and top tier plans to offer faster and more stable connections, whats ridiculous about that?

Also I would like to add that if they charged more for a constant rate and less for a slower rate it wont effect you any since you will get what you pay for or at least what they don't have to give you LULZ
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 21 Aug 2008 @ 12:38

1321.8.2008 00:46
susieqbbb
Inactive

Here is where the issue lies.


You might want to think how are you going to trace packets when even microsoft update uses tons of packets to transfer system updates this is where this is going to fail also by law they have to let there customers know what is going on and if they don't they will be sued again.so this continues to fail again and again and also without a warrent this does violate the internet protection act they cannot search your traffic without a warrent and if they do they violate the internet protection act.

So try again comcast or have fun being sued.

1421.8.2008 00:50

Originally posted by susieqbbb:
Here is where the issue lies.


You might want to think how are you going to trace packets when even microsoft update uses tons of packets to transfer system updates this is where this is going to fail also by law they have to let there customers know what is going on and if they don't they will be sued again.so this continues to fail again and again and also without a warrent this does violate the internet protection act they cannot search your traffic without a warrent and if they do they violate the internet protection act.

So try again comcast or have fun being sued.
Meh they will simply update the fine print to say due to traffic shaping and circumstances beyond their control steady rates for non premium plans will not be garrented.

1521.8.2008 01:55

Zippy i disagree, there should be no throttling what so ever for any reason they throttle because they cant provide what they say they can.

your idea would work for a extent but, it would happen again in the future 10 -/+ years, they need a new infrastructure & a faster medium, not more plans.

Cable Company are being cheap, if they continue with making new plans like you say, they will be still using an already age old Medium for 30 40 years or even untill copper is extinct from earth.

1621.8.2008 02:43

F*** that! don't try to sell me 10mb if you cant give it to me! just sell me 1mb full time or do like cell providers do! .5mb 10am-10pm r summing then bump it up to 1 mb! Dont try & sell me something that you cant provide!

1721.8.2008 04:20

Title should read "Comcast comes up with new smoke and mirrors ploy". I work with equipment related to this field. Let me tell you if all the isp's that provide access to the internet backbone were required to provide the "service" they sell they would be out of business. No one could afford the fees for the high speed connection as the equipment is bloody expensive.

1821.8.2008 08:28
13thHouR
Inactive

i fully agree zippy companies should be fully open and allow ppl the choice.

1921.8.2008 08:38

Originally posted by ripxrush:
F*** that! don't try to sell me 10mb if you cant give it to me! just sell me 1mb full time or do like cell providers do! .5mb 10am-10pm r summing then bump it up to 1 mb! Dont try & sell me something that you cant provide!

Now there's an idea they could do LOL.

Originally posted by DXR88:
Zippy i disagree, there should be no throttling what so ever for any reason they throttle because they cant provide what they say they can.

your idea would work for a extent but, it would happen again in the future 10 -/+ years, they need a new infrastructure & a faster medium, not more plans.

Cable Company are being cheap, if they continue with making new plans like you say, they will be still using an already age old Medium for 30 40 years or even untill copper is extinct from earth.
Well my idea would work if they would stop raping consumers so meh they will do everythign they can using corporate logic frist...

Originally posted by 13thHouR:
i fully agree zippy companies should be fully open and allow ppl the choice.

I am thinking of a simple to understand 3 tier system , ultra cheap but slower and heavily shaped this would be the under 25$ set, over 25 would be faster but you only really get about half of the max advertised speed its shaped in a normal fashion, and the top tier you'd pay 10-40$ more for but get constant rates and its not shaped and speeds of 30% from the max are garrented.

the trouble is the current industry mentality is EVERYONE wants super fast for a medium price they are fooling themselfs they might get more money per consumer but they are hurting themselfs in the long run by not going after the dailup crowd and the net geeks, they have focused so poorly on the middle thats all they can see.

2022.8.2008 19:03

This is all Bullsh!t, it's just a way for comcast to make more money but cutting your bandwidth to allow more users to join their network that's already past it's capacity. These problems aren't happening overseas in fact they have faster plans at lower costs. If I pay $60+ for a 8 or 10mb tier I better get that 8 or 10mb no matter the time of day or what I'm downloading. Comcast is not the internet police their job is to provide me with the service I pay for not to police it. We have other agencies including the government who take care of that. It's the same as if I went out and bought a new car from lets say Ford, I pay $40gs for a new mustang does that give them the right to throttle down the speed of the vehicle down to 55mhp during rush hour or just because I'm on a highway that has a posted speed limit of 55mph. No their job is to sell me a vehicle and once it's mine I can do what I wish with it. If I speed and break the law it's the cops who are responsible for charging me. The same goes with comcast I pay for their fastest available speed tier and I should get that full speed no matter what I'm doing online. If I'm breaking the law let the government come after me but don't cut my bandwidth.

2123.8.2008 08:07

Originally posted by bobalay:
This is all Bullsh!t, it's just a way for comcast to make more money but cutting your bandwidth to allow more users to join their network that's already past it's capacity. These problems aren't happening overseas in fact they have faster plans at lower costs. If I pay $60+ for a 8 or 10mb tier I better get that 8 or 10mb no matter the time of day or what I'm downloading. Comcast is not the internet police their job is to provide me with the service I pay for not to police it. We have other agencies including the government who take care of that. It's the same as if I went out and bought a new car from lets say Ford, I pay $40gs for a new mustang does that give them the right to throttle down the speed of the vehicle down to 55mhp during rush hour or just because I'm on a highway that has a posted speed limit of 55mph. No their job is to sell me a vehicle and once it's mine I can do what I wish with it. If I speed and break the law it's the cops who are responsible for charging me. The same goes with comcast I pay for their fastest available speed tier and I should get that full speed no matter what I'm doing online. If I'm breaking the law let the government come after me but don't cut my bandwidth.
So true I'm tired of Comcast telling me I have 8M or even now I think 16M service when I'm lucky to see 768K plus now they are going to throttle me WHEN THEY PLEASE, I don't think so. As mentioned just another way for them to milk more customers for less service, they are crooks!

Just shows how off base you are Zippy, way off! Do you work for Comcast now? I thought you were at Circuit City. :D

2223.8.2008 10:27

Mr-Movies
Hardly but the fact is they have power over the liens as long as they state it in the service contract, the hidden throttling goes agisnt the law but open trotting dose not, also the suits are worried about infrastructure and are unwilling to deal with last mile issues.

Its called balance, doing something to make the process run more smoothly on both ends, like playing a game before you buy it most will decry one eye'd bandit on the spot but without a way to send back a bad game and the high price of it its far from stealing in the name of the "AArrgggg".

2325.8.2008 08:30

Unfortunatly, this is a mute point for torrents.

ISPs are trying a new twist. In both the US and GB some IPSs are experimenting with IP blocking. It is Peerguardian in reverse. If this method is used against private trackers, it shuts them down. Public sites not using trackers can still be used if you have the torrents. Comcast has been so successful with Sandvines they may have not been exploring other methods. However, good news travels fast. Unlike Sandvines which takes a while to gain a foot-hold, this is like an iron curtain comming down or turning off the lights. No one will say boo if the ISPs are only blocking sites that have mostly copyrighted material.

Get it while you can.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 25 Aug 2008 @ 8:38

2425.8.2008 12:51

I want them to filter my ip's that way i can prove that there millions in research was in vain again.

one day the goverment will learn that there is only on real way to stop the internet and that tearing it all down. no internet no piracy no problem.

piracy is a very vague term, its taking other peoples works and claiming them as your own. im sure that almost every body that has a profile at A-D has some kind of picture that its author did not receive credit for, that is piracy

2525.8.2008 13:01

Originally posted by DXR88:
I want them to filter my ip's that way i can prove that there millions in research was in vain again.

one day the goverment will learn that there is only on real way to stop the internet and that tearing it all down. no internet no piracy no problem.

piracy is a very vague term, its taking other peoples works and claiming them as your own. im sure that almost every body that has a profile at A-D has some kind of picture that its author did not receive credit for, that is piracy
And non monetary infringement is not even a crime, its a cavil offense they have to go out on a wall for.
I'll hate the day they make it a legal crime without restructuring CP to be more populace friendly...

2625.8.2008 15:13

I learned long ago the most judgemental persons that love to make rules also love to break them. Rule are for 'little people'. They can't stand it when the 'little people' don't follow the rules either. That makes them insecure.

There was piracy long before the GUI internet. The internet makes it easier to do and easier to catch.

Pirates are the scape goats for incompetent software. In the old days, when people used to buy software regularly there was a good reson to. There was a major improvement people wanted. What I see now is CRAP! You have new software version 17.x that doesn't work as well as version 10.3. 17.x has a different interface that is not as easy to use as the old fashion interface that made them a market leader. What screws up the application is new worthless functionality I would NEVER use. They keep adding crap to justify a new version and the additons are terrible. Only a moron would change a winner. The makers blame pirates for lack of sales but they can't give away the new crap they are making.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 25 Aug 2008 @ 3:21

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