Comcast Data Usage Meter Launches

Okay so I wrote a bit of a novel for a comment and decided to start over...

I'm guessing this 'cap' always existed but nobody really knew what it was or how to track it... I am a bit concerned though because I know I do move an enormous amount of data on my Comcast connection and I sure do hope I never have to worry/think/deal with nearing or surpassing this 'cap' (I know it's not an actual 'cap' but that's the word I'm using).

This new 'launch' is certainly a bit alarming to me and obviously many others but I'm going to lay low for a bit and see how it goes (and how much I actually use...). I just hate having these limits on everything.... I mean my goodness, cell phones finally have unlimited minute plans and now internet is seemingly doing the opposite. I have unlimited everything on my cell phone partly because I use it a ton, but also because I don't want that lingering worry of 'oh crap can I make this call or will I go over... ohhh noooo....'. Just a headache =/

Anyway... The 'monitor' is good if said cap always existed. Bad if it didn't. Especially since the FAQ's for this thing state that the median usage is 4GB/month anyway and

We'll see where it goes...

Well i hope that the Google Fiber test will show that Comcast is not attempting to improve their services as it will show that a non internet service provider can provide 1GB of bandwidth to consumers at a price competitive with what others are charging. Not too mention that they will obviously not limiting the amount of bandwidth that they allow their consumers to use.

What about streaming Hulu in high def, or the countless other streaming video options available . There is a lot of data involved in streaming video. What about online gaming? Also uses lots of data. We should sue you for saying UNLIMITED...what a joke. Where I live, Comcast monopolizes any options for high speed service in my area. The last two months, according to the meter, I was at around the 360G area. Because I got rid of cable because of Hulu and Netflix. As soon as I switched over from cable, my bandwith use shot through the roof. Hello , internet based video is the future. It that what is happening, Comcast is upset that people are dropping some services because they have other LEGAL options now? People should be outraged! I pay over $750.00 a year for just home internet, isn't that enough? Were it several years ago when this was proposed, 250G might have made sense. Streaming 1080 available on my xbox sucks up bandwith. As soon as I get the technology to get the most out of my huge internet bill, Comcast changes the rules so they can cash in , yet again, on people that are slave to the whims of the Monopoly. How does Comcast respond to high quality streaming video bandwith requirements? Why dont they invest in larger servers with some of the huge profits their pocketing. Please respond!

What Are you guys going to charge us if we go over the limit?

In order to access the usage meter you must be logged in as the primary user. Additional accounts cannot access this feature. Additionally, at the present time it displays only the current month, not the three months mentioned on the help page.

I was curious; does my current usage, at 29GB (it's only the 15th !), indicate that I am a power user ? MUUUWAAH

Likewise. I've followed suit and posted my reply there as well.

http://posterous.randallagordon.com/since-comcast-wont-post-my-comment-i-will#pcomment_commentunit_1742659

Yeah, but what is the AVERAGE usage? Median is what statisticians use as a sleight of hand maneuver. You're dealing with early adopters who are setting trends. If you're watching the median and not the average, you're setting up for failure.

You might want to recognize that within Oregon there are many options available. While you are partnering with Clear, they are also a direct competitor when folks walk away from your "bundle" and simply use Clear. Not to mention DSL, of which I've been critical for many years, but it seems many of the players are starting to pick up on this cap of yours and beginning to use that as a selling point. In my own particular area we've got a WiFi mesh network available as well. On top of that there is cellular service from any one of four carriers which cover my location, which are at least up front about their caps.

You're playing with fire. This isn't cable vs. DSL anymore.

I would like to voice my approval of this tool. I think the 250GB cap is fairly generous, but as a heavy downloader I know I've come close to bumping in to it before. I want to be a good netizen and don't want to blow through the monthly cap, but it is really difficult to measure how much my computers have downloaded in total through the month. This tool will be a big help. Good job! Of course it is about a year late... but I'm willing to let that slide ;) Just roll it out nationwide, fast!

Question: Is the 250GB cap per month or per billing period?

I just called Comcast and was told the usage meter is NOT available in Portland, it is only available in nearby Beaverton. They said it would not be available in Portland until early 2010. I know you said the "Portland, OR area" but it's disingenuous and I wasted my time looking for it and calling about it.

I wanted to take a look at this feature. I'm a comcast customer in portland oregon. following the direction, i've logged in comcast.net, and check my account in the "user and settings" tab.

Unfortunately, I only see the info stuff below, which is not related to the data meter. (i put the xx:xx stuff to mask the device ID)
My devices
Device 1: xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
Domain Helper [?] status: OFF

What do you suggest i look at to find the data meter?

Does this also include Vancouver, WA which is in the Portland area? I am logged into my comcast account and am not seeing this tool anywhere.

i live in the portland area and have been looking for this meter thingy to show up for the last couple of days, but so far 'my devices' has always been empty. what gives?

So a service whose advertising mentions NOTHING about data caps is actually capped, eh? That's nice. It's also really nice that you're rolling out a faster product, so people can use up their allotted internet EVEN FASTER.
Comcast doesn't want people not paying for their ridiculously overpriced TV service, so they cripple their internet so you don't have a choice. Really nice.

Glad to see this being handled in a more orderly manner.. Set the limit, be clear about it, and provide visibility to the customer so they can make a good faith effort to abide by that limit. Good job!

Don't think you are fooling people by saying, "Only x% of people use over 250gb/month, and 1-x% of people won't have to worry." Would you outright deny that you are implementing this feature because you feel your TV industry is threatened by Netflix, Slingbox, Hulu.com, et al.? You say it is to provide all users with a better experience. You say that because some people are "hogging the internet", grandma can't look at her grandkids photos fast enough. Did it ever occur to you that more people are using more web-intensive programs everyday? It's not like bandwidth is a finite resource. As much as you guys want to say it is, bandwidth is only limited by ISPs. You love to say that your "networks are overburdened", well hate to point out the obvious but you are the ones selling the service, you should plan accordingly for usage. You sell people an advertised rate of 10mb/sec*, knowing full well that unless everyone else in their neighborhood is indisposed, there isn't a snowball's chance in hell you'll get these speeds.(*Of course getting around this little issue by saying, actual speeds may vary.) Then you have the nerve to say because so many people are "abusing their privilege" you must implement a bandwidth cap to "maintain the integrity of our networks". I pay $50/month just to access this wonderful series of tubes known as the internet. When I was sold this plan, I was told very specifically that it was UNLIMITED, that meant, if I maxed out my possible internet consumption everyday, no big deal, that's what unlimited means. If you sell me an unlimited bandwidth plan, why wouldn't you just assume I will (and everyone else you sold plans to) use as much bandwidth as possible therefore actually having a rough idea of how big your infrastructure should be and where it is needed. It's becoming more and more obvious that this whole thing is a money grab, much like Overdraft fees from our favorite finical institutions. I love how in the last comment you preach about rolling out your DOCSIS 3.0 system, which will supposedly let people have higher speeds. You don't plan on upgrading the amount we can use per month though do you? That was suspiciously left absent from your article. Basically you are giving us the power use the internet in more innovative ways, but our punishing us for trying to take advantage of your speeds. Thanks for giving me the ability to hit the upper limit more easily and quickly!

Very Sincerely,
Matt

Since you mention Fancast, and with the impending deal between Comcast and NBC (and its Hulu video portal), does Comcast include videostreaming from its own properties in the bandwidth usage?

How is it great that you're capping a service I pay monthly for at great expense? Now I can see it in a meter, wow!

Upgrade your damn infrastructure to support more bandwidth instead of cutting off customers.