TW's new bandwith cap

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Profile Blurf
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Message 881957 - Posted: 3 Apr 2009, 12:58:27 UTC
Last modified: 3 Apr 2009, 21:17:18 UTC

Here are the plans they've setup

(HUGE Thanks to Ozzfan and Ccappel for the coding help)




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Message 882239 - Posted: 4 Apr 2009, 12:49:22 UTC - in response to Message 881957.  

Hi, a few years ago, most (A)DSL suppliers, don't limit down- or up-load amount, in the Netherlands, anymore.
Last time, I heard of such measures, where years ago and from heavy; 24/7/365; torrent users
I pay 20 Euro's for a 8000/512Mbit ADSL connection a month.


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Message 882240 - Posted: 4 Apr 2009, 13:07:26 UTC - in response to Message 881498.  

maybe Obama will come to your rescue.

so how is your change going...
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Message 882275 - Posted: 4 Apr 2009, 15:41:18 UTC - in response to Message 881957.  

I can burn through 5 GB/month by downloading one ISO file. Frequently, I've downloaded two in a month. I don't understand why they don't just limit bandwidth and have tiered speeds. Charging by absolute bytes is like watching your minutes on home phone calls.
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Message 882286 - Posted: 4 Apr 2009, 16:08:28 UTC

Just got my confirmation letter in that my new internet hardware is sent to me. So next week I expect to make the change-over from my 8Mbit to a 20Mbit connection. About time too. (And sorry, Blurf, but no it comes without cap... ;-))
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Message 882364 - Posted: 4 Apr 2009, 22:05:10 UTC - in response to Message 882275.  
Last modified: 4 Apr 2009, 22:09:00 UTC

I can burn through 5 GB/month by downloading one ISO file. Frequently, I've downloaded two in a month. I don't understand why they don't just limit bandwidth and have tiered speeds. Charging by absolute bytes is like watching your minutes on home phone calls.

... because one idiot cable company (in the U.S.) tried to limit customers to their terms of service, which said "no servers."

"Idiot" because they tried to interfere with bittorrent instead of asking their customers to stay within their ToS or lose their connection.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation went to court, and made sure the practice was no longer enforceable (in the U.S.).

So, bandwidth providers like Time-Warner can't say "all you can use, but no servers." They can only count bandwidth.

Classic example of "be careful what you ask for, because you might get it."
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Message 882366 - Posted: 4 Apr 2009, 22:25:56 UTC - in response to Message 881957.  

(HUGE Thanks to Ozzfan and Ccappel for the coding help)

You're welcome, Blurf.

I understand the desire to keep threads clean and on-topic by doing some "housekeeping", but wouldn't it be beneficial to leave the "coding help" messages intact for the benefit of others? There have been times when I'm reading a thread and during the course of that thread's discussion I end up learning something new that isn't necessarily on-topic to the thread. Plus, it would alleviate confusion like "what coding help" due to hidden posts. :)
"Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think."

"I never get into an argument that I cannot win."
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Message 882372 - Posted: 4 Apr 2009, 22:52:19 UTC - in response to Message 882286.  

... next week I expect to make the change-over from my 8Mbit to a 20Mbit connection. ... without cap...


I just upgraded from 15 to 30 Mbps for an extra $10 per month. No cap. Nice and well worth it.
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Message 882383 - Posted: 4 Apr 2009, 23:19:24 UTC - in response to Message 882372.  
Last modified: 4 Apr 2009, 23:21:13 UTC

I just upgraded from 15 to 30 Mbps for an extra $10 per month. No cap. Nice and well worth it.

I am going to pay €30 less for the 20Mbit connection than I pay at this moment for the 8Mbit... ;-)

Too bad I couldn't quit my contract before September or else I would've changed ISP as well and went for a 20Mbit connection that's 55 euros cheaper than what I pay now for my 8Mbit.

By this time you know I pay too much for the 8Mbit. :-D
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Message 882387 - Posted: 4 Apr 2009, 23:27:14 UTC - in response to Message 882383.  

I am going to pay €30 less for the 20Mbit connection than I pay at this moment for the 8Mbit... ;-)

Too bad I couldn't quit my contract before September or else I would've changed ISP as well and went for a 20Mbit connection that's 55 euros cheaper than what I pay now for my 8Mbit.

By this time you know I pay too much for the 8Mbit. :-D


Are these per month charges? Expensive by my undoubtedly jaded US standards.
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Message 882392 - Posted: 4 Apr 2009, 23:40:53 UTC - in response to Message 882387.  

Are these per month charges? Expensive by my undoubtedly jaded US standards.

Yes, they're per month.
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Message 882929 - Posted: 6 Apr 2009, 23:57:35 UTC

My ISP has varying tariffs, depending on what you want... theyre all the same speed, but have different caps. one is a 10gb, one a 20gb and one is unlimited, you basically get what you pay for. if you hit your limit before the end of the month you can pay extra for that month to get it unlimited until the end of the month (works out about 5 quid more/month that just getting the unlimited in the first place, but if you dont do it too often then its worth paying less and getting the 10 or 20gb tariff)
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Message 883378 - Posted: 8 Apr 2009, 13:53:16 UTC
Last modified: 8 Apr 2009, 13:53:53 UTC

I broke down the cost of the new Time Warner plans in my blog:

http://www.enusbaum.com/blog/2009/04/07/time-warner-cable-have-they-gone-mental/

Basically, you'd get way more monthly transfer if you went dialup ;) Also, depending on how you look at the numbers, getting a dedicated DS-3 would be cheaper than using Road Runner!

LOL! :D
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Message 883557 - Posted: 8 Apr 2009, 22:27:44 UTC

Yeah, if it weren't for the Price/Speed offered by Time Warner for Road Runner, I'd dump the service so fast! If they put a cap limit on it, the price per gigabyte is too high!

I honestly have no idea what they're thinking...
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Message 883798 - Posted: 9 Apr 2009, 23:29:02 UTC

From Long Reply-http://a.longreply.com/101892:

Statement From Time Warner Cable's Chief Operations Officer on Tiered Broadband Trials

Time Warner Cable customers,

We have heard a lot of feedback and commentary about our upcoming expanded consumption-based billing trials in Texas, North Carolina and New York state. Some accounts have even characterized our plans as punitive. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We continue to make improvements to the infrastructure which will allow us to offer the following new services in the tiered broadband test markets:

1) Wideband service (DOCSIS 3.0) -- speeds up to 100mbps, as available

2) Higher speeds for existing standard and turbo services

3) Powerboost to all standard customers

With regard to consumption-based billing, we have determined that as broadband usage and penetration grow, there are increasing differences in the amount of bandwidth our customers consume. Our current pricing plans require all users to pay the same amount, whether they check email once a month or download six movies a day. As the amount of usage has dramatically diverged among users, this is becoming inherently unfair and not the way most consumers want to pay for goods they consume.

When you go to lunch with a friend, do you split the bill in half if he gets the steak and you have a salad?

However, we are not conducting these tests in a vacuum. We have heard customer feedback, and understand that a 40 GB tier seems low to heavy Internet users.

We are developing a "super - tier" now that allows for up to 100 GB of broadband usage per month in all of our test markets. We haven't confirmed pricing details as of this moment, but you have my word as Chief Operating Officer of Time Warner Cable that we will make this tier available to our customers.

We’re also providing a “gas gauge” tool to our customers so they can see how much bandwidth they’re using as they go along, and to make it easier for them to move to the tiers that best serve their needs.

Please bear in mind that this is still a test. We are approaching this as a test because broadband consumption and the internet itself continue to evolve rapidly and in ways no one can foresee. As we continue to hear from our customers -- and as broadband consumption continues to change -- we will adjust our tiers to make sure that we offer something for every family. We want to allow households to pick the data plan that works the best for them.

Furthermore, I am convening a series of meetings this week to develop plans that will allow customers to choose among tiers that provide tradeoffs between speed and consumption. If one family prefers to have lower download speeds but a higher data tier, or vice-versa, we want them to be able to make that choice.

We'd like to make enough speed and data tiers available so that it's possible for customers to reduce their monthly Internet bill based on the choices they make. Obviously this is still in the planning stages and details are fuzzy, but this is a priority for me this week.

I think that such pricing options are not only fair, but also will actually encourage more use of broadband overall.

Your feedback is important to us during these tests, too. We encourage you to email your reactions and comments to us at [realideas@twcable.com ].

We can’t respond to everyone individually, but we will review your thoughts and comments internally and use them to try to improve our services and options going forward.

Again, thank you for your comments and input. We hope this helps to explain why we think testing new pricing models that give people greater choices and control over how much they pay for internet service is a positive development for our customers.

Landel Hobbs
Chief Operating Officer
Time Warner Cable

For questions, contact:

Jeff Simmermon
Director, Digital Communications
Time Warner Cable
jeff.simmermon@twcable.com
Twitter: jeffTWC



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Message 883802 - Posted: 9 Apr 2009, 23:51:22 UTC - in response to Message 883798.  

I like the idea of the "gas gauge" tool. It would be nice to see what my own total consumption is per month, not that it would change my online habbits at all, but its one of those "nice to know" things when you're curious.
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Message 883805 - Posted: 10 Apr 2009, 0:15:02 UTC


. . . here's a Quote from the Net:

Write your local town official. [They control the franchise monopoly in your local town].

No local franchise, no Time Warner business.

Complain to the FCC.

Time Warner is targeting local business models to discriminate against customers.

DO NOT GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT!


> emphasis / italics / bold: mine ;)


BOINC Wiki . . .

Science Status Page . . .
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Message 883829 - Posted: 10 Apr 2009, 1:32:53 UTC

I've never had Time Warner, but I've got friends that are stuck with it, but I have to say.. I applaud that article. These days, the big companies just do whatever they please, without giving much detail and explanation to the people (customers) giving them money.

One of my dealings with a local infrastructure problem with Comcast, they insisted that it was my equipment and not something they were in control of. After a few days, I called them back up and called the same guy I talked to previously, and he said that there actually was a problem in the area. He called two days later just to inform me that they replaced an interface card in one of the nearby nodes. I did a bandwidth test and ping test and confirmed that the problem was solved..and I got 50% more bandwidth out of that card replacement, too.

That's what really annoyed me is that instead of acknowledging that there was a problem, they pull the "we're perfect, it's just you" story, and then when the problem magically fixes itself, they say "I guess that 101st power cycle of your modem fixed it."

That's why I say I applaud the COO for that article. I'm not giving TW any of my money because I have a different provider, but at least they're being open about it.
Linux laptop:
record uptime: 1511d 20h 19m (ended due to the power brick giving-up)
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Message 883863 - Posted: 10 Apr 2009, 4:35:55 UTC

To me, all it sounds like is a polite way of saying, "We're going to be raising prices, if you don't like it, we can drop the level of service you get." I'm not in a TW service area, but used to have Comcast, and they took every chance they could to raise rates. Until now, though, they never gave the option of avoiding a rate hike, just "Hey, we BOOSTED your speeds! Oh, and by the way, pay us more..."

-Dave

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Message 883878 - Posted: 10 Apr 2009, 6:32:53 UTC - in response to Message 883805.  


. . . here's a Quote from the Net:

Write your local town official. [They control the franchise monopoly in your local town].

Maybe not.

With the Telcos deploying fiber, they've gone to the various legislatures and basically changed the law so that the public right-of-ways can be used by the telco to deliver TV.

... and in the process, to make it fair, responsibility for Cable TV franchises is shifting to the PUC in many states -- and not the local city government.
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Message boards : Number crunching : TW's new bandwith cap


 
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