And so it begins: ATT to cap DSL/U-Verse Vol. RIP Unlimited Internet

[thegoat121886]

Link

[h4]AT&T will cap DSL and U-Verse internet, impose overage fees (update)[/h4]
By Sean Hollister  posted Mar 13th 2011 7:05PM

http://www.engadget.com/breaking/#latest/www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/eng-swipe-breaking-red.gif);">http://www.blogsmithmedia...swipe-breaking-red.gif); display: block; width: 55px; height: 19px; background-position: 50% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Breaking News

Ladies and gentlemen, the days of unlimited broadband may be numbered in the United States, and we're not talking wireless this time -- AT&T says it will implement a 150GB monthly cap on landline DSL customers and a 250GB cap on subscribers to U-Verse high speed internet starting on May 2nd. AT&T will also charge overage fees of $10 for every additional 50GB of data, with two grace periods to start out -- in other words, the third month you go over the cap is when you'll get charged. DSLReports says it has confirmation from AT&T that these rates are legitimate, and that letters will go out to customers starting March 18th. 

How does AT&T defend the move? The company explains it will only impact two percent of consumers who use "a disproportionate amount of bandwidth," and poses the caps as an alternative to throttling transfer speeds or disconnecting excessive users from the service completely. Customers will be able to check their usage with an online tool, and get notifications when they reach 65 percent, 90 percent and 100 percent of their monthly rates.

We just spoke with AT&T representative Seth Bloom and confirmed the whole thing -- rates are exactly as described above, and the company will actually begin notifying customers this week. He also told us that those customers who don't yet have access to the bandwidth usage tool won't get charged until they do, and that AT&T U-Verse TV service won't count towards the GB cap. 

Update: What prompted this change to begin with? That's what we just asked AT&T. Read the company's statement after the break. 

We are committed to providing a great experience for all of our Internet customers. Less than 2 percent of our Internet customers could be impacted by this approach - those who are using a disproportionate amount of bandwidth. We will communicate early and often with these customers so they are well aware of their options before they incur any additional usage charges.

The top 2 percent of residential subscribers uses about 20 percent of the bandwidth on our network. Just one of these high-traffic users can utilize the same amount of data capacity as 19 typical households. Lopsided usage patterns can cause congestion at certain points in the network, which can slow Internet speeds and interfere with other customers' access to and use of the network. Our new plan addresses another concern: customers strongly believe that only those who use the most bandwidth should pay more than those who don't use as much. That's exactly what this does – and again, 98% of our customers will not be impacted by this.

 

[salbah3]

Originally Posted by thegoat121886

Link

[h4]AT&T will cap DSL and U-Verse internet, impose overage fees (update)[/h4]
By Sean Hollister  posted Mar 13th 2011 7:05PM

http://www.engadget.com/breaking/#latest/www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/eng-swipe-breaking-red.gif);">http://www.blogsmithmedia...swipe-breaking-red.gif); display: block; width: 55px; height: 19px; background-position: 50% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Breaking News

Ladies and gentlemen, the days of unlimited broadband may be numbered in the United States, and we're not talking wireless this time -- AT&T says it will implement a 150GB monthly cap on landline DSL customers and a 250GB cap on subscribers to U-Verse high speed internet starting on May 2nd. AT&T will also charge overage fees of $10 for every additional 50GB of data, with two grace periods to start out -- in other words, the third month you go over the cap is when you'll get charged. DSLReports says it has confirmation from AT&T that these rates are legitimate, and that letters will go out to customers starting March 18th. 

How does AT&T defend the move? The company explains it will only impact two percent of consumers who use "a disproportionate amount of bandwidth," and poses the caps as an alternative to throttling transfer speeds or disconnecting excessive users from the service completely. Customers will be able to check their usage with an online tool, and get notifications when they reach 65 percent, 90 percent and 100 percent of their monthly rates.

We just spoke with AT&T representative Seth Bloom and confirmed the whole thing -- rates are exactly as described above, and the company will actually begin notifying customers this week. He also told us that those customers who don't yet have access to the bandwidth usage tool won't get charged until they do, and that AT&T U-Verse TV service won't count towards the GB cap. 

Update: What prompted this change to begin with? That's what we just asked AT&T. Read the company's statement after the break. 

We are committed to providing a great experience for all of our Internet customers. Less than 2 percent of our Internet customers could be impacted by this approach - those who are using a disproportionate amount of bandwidth. We will communicate early and often with these customers so they are well aware of their options before they incur any additional usage charges.

The top 2 percent of residential subscribers uses about 20 percent of the bandwidth on our network. Just one of these high-traffic users can utilize the same amount of data capacity as 19 typical households. Lopsided usage patterns can cause congestion at certain points in the network, which can slow Internet speeds and interfere with other customers' access to and use of the network. Our new plan addresses another concern: customers strongly believe that only those who use the most bandwidth should pay more than those who don't use as much. That's exactly what this does – and again, 98% of our customers will not be impacted by this.

Ehh comcast been having the 250GB for some time now. That's quite a lot actually, and I use internet frequently. I guess I don't download much movies or large files and netflix is not running 24/7

 

[thebsprky]

"and so it begins" very well said...

 

[livemyreality]

My neighborhood is still running ATT DSL and it's awfully slow. The first four house up my street are the only houses that have U-Verse. SMH.

 

[2lipslegit]

so those top 2% of users... what are they up/downloading besides pr0n and pirated stuff?

 

[ham city]

Originally Posted by 2LipsLegit

so those top 2% of users... what are they up/downloading besides pr0n and pirated stuff?

What else is there?

 

[strongmind3]

wonder whats the average use rate

 

[blazersin2k3]

smh, i don't download as much as i used to so i think i'll be fine with the cap but seriously u-verse is raising prices and adding this cap is stupid.

 

[crank lucas]

if time warner puts a cap, Im leaving

 

[2lipslegit]

Originally Posted by HAM CITY

Originally Posted by 2LipsLegit

so those top 2% of users... what are they up/downloading besides pr0n and pirated stuff?

What else is there?

thats what Im sayin... might not be such a terrible thing

 

[jrdnsrnss]

I wonder how much xbox live uses.

 

[thachosen123]

Originally Posted by Crank Lucas

if time warner puts a cap, Im leaving

 

[best hands in the game]

im mad fios isnt offered in my area. charter better not put a cap, i just left att

 

[thegoat121886]

Originally Posted by 2LipsLegit

Originally Posted by HAM CITY

Originally Posted by 2LipsLegit

so those top 2% of users... what are they up/downloading besides pr0n and pirated stuff?

What else is there?

thats what Im sayin... might not be such a terrible thing

The point here is that these companies have been giving

service while collecting massive profits. Over time, not only has their service not improved (speed, outages, etc), but now they want you to pay more for it. They're saying that this is so that users like ourselves can save, but the truth is that they're just going to pocket the profits. With constant advances in technology businesses need to grow to meet increasing demands, not to hold progress back with things like caps. It's ridiculous really. The reason AT&T is capping bandwidth left and right is because they don't want to expend capital laying more internet trunk lines. Caps allow them to utilize their existing equipment for longer while effectively raising rates on customers. The question is whether their customers will be intelligent enough to realize it.

 

[bob lobblaw]

Originally Posted by HAM CITY

Originally Posted by 2LipsLegit

so those top 2% of users... what are they up/downloading besides pr0n and pirated stuff?

What else is there?

streaming movies and other stuff (legally)

 

[donjuan23]

i dl atleast 100gb month. tron 1080p was 16 gb alone

 

[thegoat121886]

I understand that data is ostensibly an unlimited resource. The problem is and always has been the bandwidth. It's difficult for me to swallow, however, because other similar industries either don't have this problem, or have the pricing scheme set up ust about right. Electricity, for example, is virtually unlimited. It will always exist as long as there are mechanisms that can generate it, so to speak. Even when there are brownouts, or worse yet, blackouts, I never pay for electricity I don't use. Those rare "energy crisis" are rare for the reason that the infrastructure doesn't suck nearly as much as the one for broadband internet. But the point is I don't have to pay (in dollars) for SCE's problems. Nor does SCE

 about the fact that my room alone probably uses more electricity than many other folks' entire houses. If they are, they sure are doing it quietly.

I suppose there are pros and cons to those two business models: a monthly "rate" plan (AT&T) or a pay-per-usage plan (SCE). It depends if the pricing is right, and I think most people find electricity to be pretty affordable considering how much it is used. Data usage is nowhere near that. I understand that bandwidth is a commodity that is bought and sold, I just can't stand the facade AT&T has been putting up with all this. Whatever statistics they collected about the top 2% is bull

because everything is moving to streaming services now. More data than ever is going to be used and instead of improving their infrastructure to handle it like a pro and building for the future, they cap it like a bunch of little girls. Nonetheless, I get their motivation, but their incessant *****ing about their poor network is not only old, but seems rampant across their entire business model. I half-expect to go into an AT&T office and find that the coffee machine is throttled.

 

[itshlittt]

fios ftw 

 

[omgitswes]

VZW is about to start this too? If so then I'm screwed. I use my phone for tethering and usually post from it too, like now

 

[thegoat121886]

Originally Posted by omgitswes

VZW is about to start this too? If so then I'm screwed. I use my phone for tethering and usually post from it too, like now

They haven't said anything yet, but usually with these things, one company is the pioneer and the rest just follow suit.

 

[jretro23]

time warner better not do this, but i wouldn't be surprised.

 

[big atz]

Originally Posted by Crank Lucas

if time warner puts a cap, Im leaving

 

[norcalhussla]

 

[crumbs]

disgusted.

 

[mcraptor]

80 GB cap 

but to the guy worrying about xbox live don't worry it doesn't use alot