Comcast Blocks Some Internet Users

[BabyBeastie]

The interference, which The Associated Press confirmed through nationwide tests, is the most drastic example yet of data discrimination by a U.S. Internet service provider. It involves company computers masquerading as those of its users.
Each PC gets a message invisible to the user that looks like it comes from the other computer, telling it to stop communicating. But neither message originated from the other computer—it comes from Comcast. If it were a telephone conversation, it would be like the operator breaking into the conversation, telling each talker in the voice of the other: "Sorry, I have to hang up. Good bye." :punish:

Associated Press dot com (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8SCEBLG0&show_article=1)

[DoctorDoom]

Comcast's interference, on the other hand, appears to be an aggressive way of managing its network to keep file-sharing traffic from swallowing too much bandwidth and affecting the Internet speeds of other subscribers.

Comcast, the nation's largest cable TV operator and No. 2 Internet provider, would not specifically address the practice, but spokesman Charlie Douglas confirmed that it uses sophisticated methods to keep Net connections running smoothly. Cable is a shared service. The pipeline is only so big, and when bandwidth hogs who download movies, videos and a bazillion MP3s are consistently dragging down the system performance, corrective action is justified.

I have no sympathy for the "Screw you! I'll do what I bloody well please!" buttheads.

Satellite users are subject to FAP (Free Access Policy) limits that assure that the system isn't dominated by a'holes who try to download the whole damned Internet. Maybe FAP policies are required with Cable.

[BabyBeastie]

Say farewell to video conferencing, VoIP, NetFlix movie streaming, etc.

[DoctorDoom]

Say farewell to inconsiderate assholes who day after day download gigabytes of files and who don't give a shit what it's doing to the Net experience of the rest of the customers.

[Rhino]

Satellite users are subject to FAP (Free Access Policy) limits that assure that the system isn't dominated by a'holes who try to download the whole damned Internet.I have that problem with my satellite connection, but it's because my work is so bandwidth intensive, and that's why they pay for my connection. I could improve things by upgrading to an enterprise account, but those are damned expensive. I can usually manage to work around it, but sometimes I still have to drive in to work after hours, which is what I'm doing right now.

[DoctorDoom]

If you're on HughesNet ...

http://www.copperhead.cc/newfap.jpg

I'm on the Pro plan. Although I've inadvertently come near the limit, I've never been fapped. IAC, I now do most of my big-file downloading during the 3AM-6AM EDT FAP-free window. During those three hours, the only limit to what can be downloaded is how fast the connection is.

[Rhino]

I'm on Pro or ProPlus. Don't remember which.

[DoctorDoom]

Pro is $69/month. ProPlus is $79/month.

[Rhino]

Hmm. Mine's $117.14/month.

[Rhino]

Ah. I see. My company chose not to buy the equipment, so our monthly is higher. Plus, I have a static IP.