NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] [kdawson@slashdot.org: AT&T trying out a DSL bandwidth cap]
----- Forwarded message from Keith Dawson <kdawson@slashdot.org> -----
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:51:55 -0500
From: Keith Dawson <kdawson@slashdot.org>
Subject: AT&T trying out a DSL bandwidth cap
To: Lauren Weinstein <lauren@vortex.com>
Just got this in as a Slashdot submission. Don't know if we'll run it or
not, but thought NNSquad would be interested. It's from someone in Reno,
who forwards part of an email he got from AT&T, to wit:
"As part of our ongoing effort to ensure AT&T services meet the
differing needs and usage patterns of all of our customers, we recently
initiated a bandwidth usage trial for customers in the Reno area. During
the trial, participants who exceed 150 gigabytes (GB) - combined
upstream and downstream use - in a calendar month will be charged $1 per
gigabyte for bandwidth usage over the monthly allotment. This
communication is to notify you that based on your level of usage, we are
placing you into the trial group. The next month you exceed 150 GB of
bandwidth, AT&T will notify you by email. Charges will be waived for the
first month your usage goes over the 150 GB allotted bandwidth. After
that, we will send an email to you each time your usage reaches 70% (105
GB) of the allotted bandwidth in a calendar month, with a reminder that
charges will be assessed should you exceed 100%."
-- KDawson
----- End forwarded message -----
[ I wonder how AT&T will notify their DSL subs who have never even
used an AT&T-related e-mail address? In my experience, there is
no serious attempt made to keep a current e-mail address on file
for all subs.
OK, lessee now. Proposed/testing bandwidth caps:
Comcast - 250 GB
AT&T - 150 GB (top speed tier)
TW - 40 GB (top speed tier)
Others - even lower, sometimes *much* lower
Interesting that AT&T's proposed cap is more than three times that
of Time Warner, even as TW increases speeds and continues to
boast their superiority to DSL.
You think maybe there are spreadsheets sitting around somewhere
that equate each reduction in the bandwith cap with commensurate
increases in pay-per-view movie purchases of the ISPs' own
(uncapped) video offerings?
-- Lauren Weinstein
NNSquad Moderator ]