Technology catch-all thread

[HuskyCaucasian]

And the war begins....

Comcast makes Netflix PAY to have their videos over Comcast internet

On November 19, 2010, Comcast informed Level 3 that, for the first time, it will demand a recurring fee from Level 3 to transmit Internet online movies and other content to Comcast's customers who request such content. By taking this action, Comcast is effectively putting up a toll booth at the borders of its broadband Internet access network, enabling it to unilaterally decide how much to charge for content which competes with its own cable TV and Xfinity delivered content. This action by Comcast threatens the open Internet and is a clear abuse of the dominant control that Comcast exerts in broadband access markets as the nation's largest cable provider.

 

On November 22, after being informed by Comcast that its demand for payment was 'take it or leave it,' Level 3 agreed to the terms, under protest, in order to ensure customers did not experience any disruptions.

 

Level 3 operates one of several broadband backbone networks, which are part of the Internet and which independent providers of online content use to transmit movies, sports, games and other entertainment to consumers. When a Comcast customer requests such content, for example an online movie or game, Level 3 transmits the content to Comcast for delivery to consumers.

 

Level 3 believes Comcast's current position violates the spirit and letter of the FCC's proposed Internet Policy principles and other regulations and statutes, as well as Comcast's previous public statements about favoring an open Internet.

[Steve9347]

And the war begins....

Comcast makes Netflix PAY to have their videos over Comcast internet

That is complete f***ing horses***.

[Balta1701]

That is complete f***ing horses***.

It's a perfectly reasonable business move for Comcast if Netflix is taking up a significant chunk of their network. If Netflix customers are taking up a large enough chunk of their data, even if they lost all of their netflix customers, cutting the data they're transmitting would save Comcast money in the long run.

 

Of course...the hippie in me would say that business benefits be damned, we ought to have a content-provider-neutral internet rather than one where the service providers can sell off advantages, but every day that goes by, that seems less and less likely.

[StrangeSox]

It's a perfectly reasonable business move for Comcast if Netflix is taking up a significant chunk of their network. If Netflix customers are taking up a large enough chunk of their data, even if they lost all of their netflix customers, cutting the data they're transmitting would save Comcast money in the long run.

 

Of course...the hippie in me would say that business benefits be damned, we ought to have a content-provider-neutral internet rather than one where the service providers can sell off advantages, but every day that goes by, that seems less and less likely.

 

Bandwidth isn't the issue. Netflix competing with Comcast's On-Demand service is the issue. It's bulls***, and when I get home tonight, I'm writing a letter to Comcast telling them to change the policy or I'm cancelling service at the end of the month. Anyone have experience with Clear's 4G service?

 

Listening to NPR today, they made the point that Comcast is doing a really good job of lobbying for Net Neutrality regulation with the actions they are taking.

[StrangeSox]

Sounds like the power source burned. It shouldnt cost much to fix, but that sucks.

 

 

And Boxee Box just got here, hooking it up tonight!!!

 

Yep, power supply.

[HuskyCaucasian]

Verizon is officially announcing their 4G network Edited December 1, 2010 by Athomeboy_2000

[BigSqwert]

The EVO is still ridiculously expensive. Figured they'd be giving them away this month for the holidays. Was thinking of grabbing one for the wife.

[BigSqwert]

Verizon is officially announcing their 4G network

From what I'm hearing you'll get the same $10 4G charge Sprint rapes me with but you'll also get tiered data charges.

[HuskyCaucasian]

From what I'm hearing you'll get the same $10 4G charge Sprint rapes me with but you'll also get tiered data charges.

$50/month for 5GB of data, with an $80/month plan for 10GB

[BigSqwert]

$50/month for 5GB of data, with an $80/month plan for 10GB

I'm sure it'll change some day but I prefer the unlimited data plan at sprint. Who wants to keep monitoring their data usage?

[Y2HH]

It's a perfectly reasonable business move for Comcast if Netflix is taking up a significant chunk of their network. If Netflix customers are taking up a large enough chunk of their data, even if they lost all of their netflix customers, cutting the data they're transmitting would save Comcast money in the long run.

 

Of course...the hippie in me would say that business benefits be damned, we ought to have a content-provider-neutral internet rather than one where the service providers can sell off advantages, but every day that goes by, that seems less and less likely.

 

It's also illegal.

 

You cannot charge more for certain data, regardless of what it is, over other data.

 

The CAN impose bandwidth caps and higher charges for going over said caps, but they CANNOT charge extra for the type of data, which is exactly what they want to be able to do.

[G&T]

It's also illegal.

 

You cannot charge more for certain data, regardless of what it is, over other data.

 

The CAN impose bandwidth caps and higher charges for going over said caps, but they CANNOT charge extra for the type of data, which is exactly what they want to be able to do.

 

It is not illegal. It may be in contravention of FCC policy.

 

In any event, they aren't charging customers more for access to certain parts of the web. They are forcing Netflix to charge customers more.

[Steve9347]

I'm sure it'll change some day but I prefer the unlimited data plan at sprint. Who wants to keep monitoring their data usage?

I'm hoping it doesn't change. Sprint is gathering customers left and right based on their unlimited plans. They'd just as quickly lose these customers if they changed policies.

[HuskyCaucasian]

I'm sure it'll change some day but I prefer the unlimited data plan at sprint. Who wants to keep monitoring their data usage?

they will send you text messages when you have reached 50%, 75%, 90%, and 100% of you data plan.

[BigSqwert]

they will send you text messages when you have reached 50%, 75%, 90%, and 100% of you data plan.

So you're downloading a large file and it's halfway done....you get a text saying you're at 90% for the month....what do you do? Cancel the download?

[iamshack]

So you're downloading a large file and it's halfway done....you get a text saying you're at 90% for the month....what do you do? Cancel the download?

Get treatment for your mobile pornography addiction.

[BigSqwert]

Get treatment for your mobile pornography addiction.

My doctors have deemed me untreatable.

[StrangeSox]

It is not illegal. It may be in contravention of FCC policy.

 

In any event, they aren't charging customers more for access to certain parts of the web. They are forcing Netflix to charge customers more.

 

Which is bulls***. I pay for a certain bandwidth (I don't remember what the numbers are any more) and Comcast has finally admitted to having caps (250GB) after being slapped down for throttling torrents. It does not and should not matter what I use my 250GB for, whether it's from Xfinity or Netflix or Youtube. Their arguments don't make sense from everything I've read since Comcast is a "last mile" provider.

 

This is pretty transparently a move to protect their On Demand marketplace. If Comcast can't handle the traffic their customers want, regardless of where that traffic is coming from, they need to change their plans or charge more, not charge the content providers.

[southsider2k5]

My doctors have deemed me untreatable.

 

Mostly because they keep seeing the porn when you go in to see them..

[Balta1701]

For those who don't watch the politics...the FCC is currently deciding regulations regarding high-speed internet content. Yesterday, they released a draft report of their proposed regulations. They're incredibly "business-friendly", in the sense that your average small consumer gets screwed. Quite literally, it would make what everyone is complaining about Comcast doing above 100% legal; charging fees for different types of content moving over their network.

In a speech he plans to give Wednesday in Washington, Julius Genachowski, the F.C.C. chairman, will outline a framework for broadband Internet service that forbids both wired and wireless Internet service providers from blocking lawful content. But the proposal would allow broadband providers to charge consumers different rates for different levels of service, according to a text of the speech provided to The New York Times.

The public comment period on this ends in a couple weeks.

[StrangeSox]

Hooray! More powerful monopolies!

[Balta1701]

Hooray! More powerful monopolies!

Anything else is Socialism.

[Jenksismyhero]

For those who don't watch the politics...the FCC is currently deciding regulations regarding high-speed internet content. Yesterday, they released a draft report of their proposed regulations. They're incredibly "business-friendly", in the sense that your average small consumer gets screwed. Quite literally, it would make what everyone is complaining about Comcast doing above 100% legal; charging fees for different types of content moving over their network.

The public comment period on this ends in a couple weeks.

 

It's a s***ty practice, but I don't see why this should be illegal. They're providing the service, they can charge what they want for it. That just means other companies (AT&T U-Verse for example, which I have and which is great) can give you unlimited/unrestricted plans.

 

Comcast sucks anyway. Why anyone uses them is beyond me.

[Balta1701]

It's a s***ty practice, but I don't see why this should be illegal. They're providing the service, they can charge what they want for it. That just means other companies (AT&T U-Verse for example, which I have and which is great) can give you unlimited/unrestricted plans.

 

Comcast sucks anyway. Why anyone uses them is beyond me.

I can't speak to Comcast...but I'd also add that AT&T thoroughly sucks as well.

[Jenksismyhero]

I can't speak to Comcast...but I'd also add that AT&T thoroughly sucks as well.

 

What are your issues? I only subscribe to the U-Verse internet. It's been about 8 months and I've never had a slow down, cap or a random outage. My router went bad one night, they were there at 9am the next morning to replace it. Maybe I'm just in a good area though.

 

On a slightly different topic, anyone else a Hulu Plus subscriber? Basically my wife and I ditched cable when we moved to our new house in the spring. Decided to get a decent internet package (12mb) and rely on Netflix and over-the-air stuff. While I miss the occasional Food network porn, I really can't say that I've missed anything big. All of our favorite shows we either watch on Hulu, the network's website, or we buy through my PS3. 90% of my sporting events are on major networks or espn3.com. I do have to rely on the radio for most Bulls/Sox games, but at least WGN and WCIU carries them occasionally. Bt anyways we just signed up for Hulu Plus so we don't have to keep connecting the laptop to the TV. So far so good, especially for 7.99 a month. Anyone else have opinions on it? The idea that i'm paying for the content WITH ads kind of annoys me.