Posted on 09/02/2015 5:03:36 AM PDT by Enlightened1
Comcast has slowly but surely been expanding the company's usage cap trials since around 2012, largely focusing them on less competitive markets where annoyed users can't vote with their wallets. In these seventeen (and counting) trial markets, Comcast broadband customers face a monthly usage cap of 300 gigabytes. After that, users need to shell out $10 for each additional 50 gigabytes of data consumed. The trials have expanded slowly but surely in the hopes of minimizing user backlash. Basically, Comcast is the hot water slowly coming to a boil, and you're the frog.
It appears that Comcast has now added a new wrinkle to the mix, and has started charging these trial users an extra $30 if they want to bypass usage caps. The company's FAQ for the new option tries to argue that the change is being made to provide consumers with greater "choice and flexibility":
The Unlimited Data Option provides additional choice and flexibility for our customers who may make heavier use of the Internet. Enrollment is optional. The Unlimited Data Option costs the current additional fee of $30 per calendar month, regardless of actual data usage. The 300 GB plan will not apply to customers who enroll in the Unlimited Data Option.
Back in 2012, users in these trial markets used to get uncapped Comcast broadband service as a matter of course. They now get to pay $30 more a month for the honor of avoiding Comcast's totally arbitrary and unnecessary usage restrictions. And it's all thanks, of course, to the painful lack of competition in most Comcast markets. While this "unlimited" option is currently only being tested in the Florida cap markets, Comcast has made it clear for years it hopes to impose this kind of punitive pricing system in all markets.
(Excerpt) Read more at techdirt.com ...
Only had a couple issues since changing to Xfinity for internet a little over a year ago. I will say this, the folks you deal with there are the most bald faced liars I have ever encountered.
Stop calling me Fred. My name's Adolph.
Families with kids and adults streaming movies (Netflix, Amazon etc will exceed 300gb usage caps. I doubt many others will. Its a non issue here. And we pay only 25$ per month for 25mbps speed and are happy w this
lol..... I am in a suburban area and can get really high speed Comcast if I want to. But as far as ATT laying fiber to bring in UVERSE this is taking forever. I don’t know if it will happen in the next five years. I really want two competitive ISPs but as of now it it Comcast @25mbps or ATT at 768kbps DSL
I live 3 miles up a dirt road on the side of a mountain in Montana. I have microwave internet, line of site to a tower 10 + miles away down in the valley. There is another tower 15 miles away I can use as well, if my trees get too tall for the one I’m aimed at now.
No chance of a land line ever coming up to me and satellite is too damn slow and expensive. I get no data caps and 11 mbs, good enough for streaming video and audio. Check if anybody is doing that in your area. It is a good option.
Cox has limits on its subscribers, also.
Somebody should DO something about this!
I live in the boonies. After years of relying solely on a Verizon hotspot with a base capacity of 4 GB/month and $10/Gb thereafter, I just switched to satellite internet with 10 GB/month and an additional 50 GB from 2 AM - 8 AM. My mind kinda boggles that anyone uses 300 GB. ;-)
IOW - How a company wants to go out of business. I bought a Boost WiFi hot spot, $50/mo for 10gb and it works where ever Sprint works.
Cox Cable’s preferred service (mid-level) offered 20 mbps and 250 GB upload & download. I seldom used 80-100 GB per month.
A couple of months ago, they upped the speed to 50 mbps and 350 GB upload & download.
Even with Netflix binges and similar streaming and videos, my usage for the last month is at 100 GB.
It takes a lot of time on the computer/internet to download 250 GB of data. Netflix and similar services are starting to offer superHD, if one’s TV/computer support that level.
Thx for the tips! 8^)
I think CommieCast is trying to force internet only users, ie cable cutters, to not drop their pathetic cable overpriced cable offering. The only way to bust 300 GB/month is by watching many hours of video everyday.
I had Netflix streaming and CommieCast last spring, and didn’t have that much to do - watched a lot of series back to back and started approaching 250GB/month.
“...Comcast’s totally arbitrary and unnecessary usage restrictions...” That’s not entirely true, there is a meaningful sum of COGS associated with providing the product.
There’s also, of course, financial objectives... pricing levers that Comcast can adjust with the risk of alienating customers and inspiring competitors. Consumers will ask what additional value do I get for the higher price. If there’s none, Comcast may want to consider a scalable response for consumers - perhaps a re-recorded .wav file with the sound of crickets.
Is this Mr. Monday Morning Quarterback, Mr. Wheelchair General???
;-)
...Factory air conditioned air, from our fully equipped, air conditioned factory...
“Where is that son of mine?”
“He’s not your son, Fred.”
“Stop torturing me, Ethel.”
Sorry I had to go to work; I could have played this all day.
Pull the plug and get Time Warner unlimited for $14.99.
And the car stopped on a dime. Unfortunately, the dime was in Mr. Rococo’s pocket.
Loads of fun. If not for work, I’d have played all day.
I was just back from Vietnam and going to college on the GI Bill. A buddy of mine played Firesign for me and I was smitten... LOL!
............................................
Porgy and Mudhead in High School Madness
from Don’t Crush the Dwarf Hand Me the Pliers
by The Firesign Theater
Announcer 1: This is U.T.V. - for you, the viewer
Announcer 2: The Howl of the Wolf movie
Woo.. Woo... Wooooof
Announcer 2: Presenting honest stories of working people as told by rich Hollywood
stars
Woo.. Woo... Wooooof
Announcer 3: This morning’s wacky feature - Porgy and Mudhead in High School
Madness with Dave Casman as Porgy and Joe Bergman as Mudhead
SONG:
Porgy Tirebiter!
He’s a spy and a girl delighter,
Orgie Firefighter!
He’s just a student like you.
If you’re looking for a Captain of the Ringball Team,
You can bet he won’t be there.
You’ll find him pa-popping off at Pop’s Sodium Shoppe,
Tr-trailing a red, with red hair.
Doobie doo-wah...
Porgy Tirebiter!
Just a student like you!
Porgy: Like me?!
Just a student like you!
Father: Stop singing and finish your homework!
Just a student like you! ooooooooooo...
Mother: Adolf come and get it! Your clamcakes are getting damp.
Father: 10 - 4 Eleanor
[Door Slam and Footsteps]
Father: Whew! Defoliating a victory garden certainly works up an appetite.
Mother: You sit down, father, and dig right in.
Father: That’s right! This afternoon I’ll be able to start digging the pit.
If I can get any work out of that boy of yours I can have the bunker finished by
election day. Where is Porgy anyway?
Mother: He’s up in his room, helping Porcelin make the bed.
Porcelin: Oh Porgy, Oh my, oh my, oh my!
Mother: Porgy... Porgy Tirebiter!
Porgy: Co.. eh... Coming mother!
Mother: He’s so good with the servants, Fred.
Father: Stop calling me Fred. My name’s Adolph.
[Footsteps]
Porgy: Bombs away, Dad. Morning, Mom.
Mother: Morning, son.
Porgy: Oh, hot dog! Groat cakes again. Heavy on the 30 weight, Mom.
Father: Don’t, don’t eat with your hand, son. Use your entrenching tool.
Porgy: Ah, Gee, Dad. I’m just trying to save time. It isn’t everyday a guy
graduates from high school.
Father: Ha ha ha! How many times have I heard that before...
Mother: Well you boys fight it out among yourselves.
Father: Ok mother!
[Sounds of a Fist Fight]
Mother: Oh, my, my look at the time - I’ve got to dress for my bridge club.
Porgy: Gee, Mom. Isn’t that bridge built yet?
Father: No son, Uh! and it won’t be until free hands on both sides of the big
ditch can press the same button at the same time.
Porgy: Ok, Dad, I give! Oh, boy! Can I eat my breakfast now?
Father: Only if you stay out of trouble, boy. Your shennanigans can cost me
this election.
Porgy: Oh, come on Dad. No Irishman can stop you from getting to be [garbled]
doggonner this time. You’re a natural.
Father: Don’t wolf your food.
[Car Horn Honking]
Porgy: Oh, Oh, there’s Mudhead. Graduation here I come! So long, Dad! Keep
‘em flying.
[Footsteps - Door Slams]
Father: Oh, that son of mine.
Mother: He’s not your son, Fred.
Father: Stop torturing me, Ethel.
[Car Engine]
Porgy: Come on, step on it, Mudhead.
Mudhead: Oh, I’d love to Porgy, but I got my two tones to the floor boards
all ready.
Porgy: Well, Ok, then we could take the shortcut through Frogtown.
Mudhead: Aw reet! We could stop off at Pop’s and dig some jugs.
Porgy: Some what?
Mudhead: Oh, that Louise Wong’s got a balcony you could do Shakespeare from.
Porgy: Oh, not now, Mudhead! They need me at the last meeting of the
philatelist’s club.
Mudhead: I didn’t know you masturbated.
Porgy: Aw creepies, Mudhead! Where’s your school spirit?
Mudhead: It’s in the rumble seat - Ya want a snort?
Porgy: Oh, very funny.
Mudhead: Sure is.
Porgy: Gee! Everybody at Morse Science High has an extra-ciricular activity
but you.
Mudhead: Well doesn’t Louise count?
Porgy: Only to 10, Mudhead - You know that’s just it...
Mudhead: Just what?
Porgy: Well, we’re the leaders of tomorrow.
Mudhead: Yeah, but it’s today.
Porgy: Well, yeah, but what are you gonna do tomorrow - after we graduate?
Mudhead: Oh, well. I thought I’d go out and find a bunch of guys who dress
alike and follow ‘em around.
Porgy: What?
Mudhead: Or I could go out and pick up a couple of girls.
Porgy: Oh, is that all you think about? Picking up things.
Mudhead: Yeah!
Porgy: Golly, Mudhead. Don’t you remember what Principal Poop put down at the
Pep rally yesterday?
Mudhead: Principal who?
[Pep Rally Sounds]
Crowd: P - E - P - Pep pills! Pep pills! Pep pills! Pep pills! Pep pills!
[Tapping on Microphone]
Principal Poop: Is this on? Thank you fellow kids. In addressing for the
assembly this morning...
Heckler: Fuck you!
Principal Poop: Thank you. I’m recalling the words of the foundry... founder
of Morse Science High School, “You kipe the heap... who press the first bricks
with his own hands...”
Heckler: Who cares!
Principal Poop: “Knowledge for the pupil... people”, he said. “Give them a
light and they’ll follow it anywhere.” We think that is a fair and a wise guy
who’ll rule to be guided by...
Heckler: What is reality?
Principal Poop: And we’re not afraid of it, are we?
Heckler: Eat it!
Principal Poop: You bet!
Heckler: Eat it Raw!
Principal Poop: Rah, rah rah! That’s the spirits we have here - ok? - So come
on kids...
Heckler: Fuck you!
Principal Poop: Line up. Sign up. And re-enlist today. Because we need more
schooling, for more students, for Morse Science High.
Heckler: Boo!
Principal Poop: Thank you.
Heckler: Boo!
Principal Poop: Fuck you, too!
[Car Engine]
Porgy: So you see, Mudhead, it’s like the pooper said with counter subversive
educational priorities the way they are, well, it really helps our side to
re-enlist.
Mudhead: Is that what you’re gonna do?
Porgy: Aw, hell no! Right after I graduate I’m going to cut the soles off my
shoes, sit in a tree, and learn to play the flute.
Mudhead: Hey, look Porgy!
[Brakes]
Porgy: Watch it!
Mudhead: Where are you gonna graduate from?
Porgy: Holy Mudhead, Mackeral! Morse Scince High — it’s disappeared!
[Dum Dum Da Dum]
Technichian: ... Peter you seem to lose the ....
[Banging]
Announcer 3: ical difficulties are preventing the continuation of tonight’s
Foxhole Feature High School Madness. We are working on the problem...
Commercial Voice Over: Shoes for industry. Shoes for the dead. Shoes for industry
Joe Beets Hi, I’m Joe Beets! Hey, what chance does a returning deceased war
veteran have for that good paying job, more sugar, and the free mule you’ve been
dreaming of. Well, think it over, then take off your shoes. Now you can see how
increased spending opportunities means harder work for everyone and more of it
too. So do your part today, Joe. Join with millions of your neighbors and turn in
your shoes.
Commercial Voice Over: For industry!
Mudhead: Jumpin’ Ju Ju Bees, Porgy. It looks like a wasteland. There’s nothing
left but the flagpole.
Porgy: I don’t know what to say, Mudhead, I...
Bottles: Hey, hey hi, Mudhead.
Mudhead: Oh, hi Bottles.
Bottles: I know who did this. It was those bullies at Communist Martyrs High
School, that’s who.
Porgy: Oh, come on, Bottles. We don’t know who did it yet.
Bottles: Oh, I have a very good idea, uhm..
El Dorado: Oh, Porgy, Porgy, you’re a white man. You’ve got to help us. What,
what, what do you think... what do you think we oughta...
Student : Speak English, El Dorado.
El Dorado: what do you think we should do?
Student : Yeah, what do you think, Porgy?
Porgy: Well, I don’t think we oughta jump to any conclusions or take any...
Student 2: Hey, Porgy! Hey, Porgy! Principal Poop’s on the radio. Turn the car
radio. Poop’s on.
Porgy: Ok, well, gather round kids and stay on camera. We’ll all listen together.
Principal Poop: All of us want to know... just as much as I want to know who’s
responsible...
Bottles: Communist Martyrs High School, that’s who’s res...
Porgy: Shhh, Shhh
Principal Poop: and until we do I must make my dirty cl... duty clean... clear
and announce the suspendering of the upcoming graduating exercises.
Porgy: Oh no!
Principal Poop: which can not... and will... which aren’t taking place.
Porgy: I’m never gonna get out of here!
Principal Poop: But don’t worry! Don’t worry! Your food, housing, insecurity,
will be guaranteed by the Department of Redundancy Department and the Natural
Guard.
Mudhead: Hey, there gonna surround us!
Principal Poop: And remember trust pressers will be persecuted. So please, stay
where you are, don’t move, and don’t panic! Don’t take off your shoes. Jobs is on
the way.
Porgy: Golly!
Principal Poop: Thank you!
El Dorado: Wow, that’s the darndest thing I ever...
Principal Poop: Now here’s a record I think you’ll really dig.
Porgy: Hold it! Hey! Hold it down, kids. Don’t get excited.
El Dorado: Who’s excited?
Porgy: Now the only way we’re gonna get the school back is us. I’ve got a really
swell ide...
Announcer: I’m sorry we have lost the picture portion of our pictmission - How...
however we will continue with the sou...
[Click]
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.