AT&T To Impose Caps, Overages

[kyaMega]

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mblackwell33 wrote:

Oh Yeah! Not sure how many people on theis thread live in Kansas City but it was just announced that KC will be a test market for google 1GB Internet service. Bye Bye AT&T Now someone is doing it right bringing us more bandwidth at a affordable price with no caps. Thats why you should try and compete instead of restrict. You loss is another companies gain. Go Go Google!

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I wish I lived in Kansas City!!

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Yahoo News wrote:

Google says it hopes phone and cable companies will learn lessons from the experimental network that will help them hurry the rollout of their own high-speed systems and bring faster connections to more Americans at a lower cost.

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AT&T: Please learn this lesson. Sooner than later.

kthanksbye.

[Roadrunnerr]

I am sure my household falls into that 2% abuser bad people we are. Let's see two computers one teenage boy two i phones and those podcasts. I do work from home he does online schooling at home plus xbox360 of course world of warcraft. Plus my house is the hang out house so that means up too 3 extra teen age boys more online games xbox360 etc. makes me a very bad person for using the internet I should be punished!

Hey at&t this is the tech age everything is on the internet! Why don't you upgrade your systems to handle the traffic be a leader and not cap, show the rest of them how to do it. There is a provider in my area call wow cable and they do not cap!

What is the point of having higher speeds? Why not come out with another package foe us 2% so called offenders. I know if I get cap you loose all my cable, internet and wireless service. Someone else will get my 200.00 a month wireless bill and my 165.00 a month cable/internet bill.

I have enjoyed your service but you guys are not thinking why go the way of comcast?

[oldie_1]

Well, I just signed on to Netflix and bought a Roku media player for my HD TV(it works great) only to find out that I cannot use it without extra charges on my internet bill. I was watching at least two movies and two TV episodes a day with Netflix. I will be looking for a new provider now because Netflix is your friend, but not with AT@T.

BTW, I have four people in my household that are on the internet constantly. I use netflix, my Granddaughter watches streaming video and audio(she goes to sleep with streaming audio and it stays on all night). My wife and daughter use video and audio non stop until they go to bed. Time to change.

[kdroop]

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kyaMega wrote:

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sirmaru wrote:

There goes my streaming Netflix movie watching.  I'll have to just rely on the Netflix Blue Ray and DVD movies now.  Netflix probably triggered the ATT move by bragging that all their movies would be only streamed over the internet in 5 years.

I'm getting one of those new Sony / Google / Netflix 40" TV's.  I guess now it will only be the TV part I will use.  The rest just went obsolete before  I even received it.   I'm going to cancel it tomorrow and buy another one without internet access or just forget a new TV altogether.  ATT just made that internet movie access OBSOLETE.

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This makes me very sad.  Please do not punish Netflix, Sony, and Google for the sins of AT&T.  Punish AT&T.  

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How do you punish ATT and you have no options.

[oldie_1]

Just cancel the AT@T service. Everyone needs to. I am going to if they do not rescind this policy.

[trogdortheburni…]

If ATT were to go about this tiered nonsense in a more fair way, with the lower packages having the limits, and the people who use the supposed "20%" of their network pay more for a better package, say a 50/10mb like comcast has. I would be all about it. This is ridiculous. I have only had U-verse for 3 months since I switched from TWC for having terrible upload, only 384kb/s max with their best package and no docsis 3 on the horizon. There are no other options. It's either ATT or TWC. As a whole ATT's service has been great, aside from their customer no-service. That said, I run a openfire server as well as a couple of voice servers for friends who play games as well as a community for various people on the internet. So typically, I use plenty of bandwidth just from background services. Not counting 1080P youtube videos or netflix. With several people in the house and my niece who watched the same garfield movie over and over on netflix about 4 times a day. It all adds up really quick. If ATT could properly explain their reasoning it might be easier to swallow. However, networking equipment doesn't magically get slower because 2% of people are using their promised about of bandwidth that they're paying for. If ATT is having problems then they need to upgrade their infrastructure. It's that simple. They just rolled U-Verse our in my area so they have sunk some money in it. So spend a few hundred thousand dollars at your nodes and trunk facilities and compete with the other companies out there. Tiered billing is not the answer. TWC tried it a year or so ago and lost nearly all of their business in their test city. Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/16/time_warner_metered_billing_testing_stalled/ Alot of people have switched to ATT since they have introduced U-verse as a direct competitor to FIOS. However if the customers they they're fisting for cash get an alternative that's better or doesn't screw them over, they'll switch in a heartbeat. I know I would. This is of course ignoring the fact that their TOS wording has been updated and still contradicts company policy and documentation that's on the website. As well as the fact that their fancy usage meter doesn't work at all. So we now have a cap that was imposed a month ago, the 2'nd, that we just got notification on, the 30'th, and they still don't have all their ducks in a row. That's very promising from a customer standpoint. To a new customer, they will find out that ATT has unnavigable automated phone systems, tiered service, and no way to track it. Sounds kind of sketchy to me. Or like they're setting us up for what they did before with their mobile service. Some slight reading.http://www.itworld.com/unified-communications/141523/att-internet-usage-billing-much-4700 {Links Removed per Keep it Relevant: no legal discussions allowed} Not to mention the other dozens of articles floating around about people {Keep it Relevant}, or receiving asinine bills for usage that never occurred. So we can't see our usage, and we can't know if we're being taken for a ride. Thanks ATT. By the way, you still owe me $100 for the router I bought and promised me a rebate.

[7-Cha0s]

In the not to near future, AT&T will be offering 50mbps/5mbps to compete with Time Warners "Wideband" that is 50mbps/5mbps. My router is already trained up at 50/5. Now, all they have to do is sell it. And, how much do you want to bet that it will be 99.99/mo with no data cap?

They are banking on all of this devistation to announce an uncapped version completely contradicting their claims of "congested" internet. They will simply come out and say since everyone cut back, har har, we can offer an unlimted package for 100 dollars!

[flhthemi]

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EOC_Jason wrote:

Everyone, you NEED to fill out this form at the FCC. Not only did I get a letter back from the FCC saying they will investigate the matter, I got a call from the president's office in Dallas concerning the matter (I didn't talk to them but they leftt contact info, I *might* call back once I calm down)... Obviously if enough people complain, then something WILL CHANGE....

{Keep it spam free - no solitications or legal language permitted on the forums}

It's the deceptive practices / advertising complaint....

On the U-verse site, it CLEARLY shows, "We dont' limit your bandwidth to a particular amount"... I'm attaching an image, but here is the URL too:  http://www.att.com/u-verse/explore/resource-landing.jsp

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OMG! I quoted this message and it's using the picture which is consuming more of AT&T's valuable data!

Anyway, I cut this and pasted it from the above page: We use existing Fiber to deliver all your entertainment to your television, computer and phone.

Maybe, but it sure ain't UNLIMITED! And you sure don't want us watching Hulu, Netflix or anything that doesn't come from YOUR TV service!

[sirmaru]

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oldie_1 wrote:

Just cancel the AT@T service. Everyone needs to. I am going to if they do not rescind this policy.

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I have no ISP choices.  Charter is the alternative and they are worse than ATT.  I'm sticking with my old TV's and will just use Netflix discs and forget internet movies.  Best Buy lost my potential purchases of new Sony / Google TV's.

By the way, my son lives in London, UK, and uses British Telecom.  His upload speed is 8 times mine (1.3 Mbps) and his download speed is 4 times mine (17 Mbps).  He has no bandwith caps at all.

This new ATT Uverse policy will affect Skype Video calls.  They use huge bandwidth.  It looks like I'll only be making Skype Voice calls to him now.  As it was, my upload speed was so low that the video portion only lasted in 12 second spurts anyway.

I also used to play a lot of video games on the internet especally via Steam.  It looks like that hobby is about to end as well.

[kshusker]

I'm surprised that web page that claims U-Verse offers unlimited bandwidth is still on their site. That is straightforward false advertising, and they could get in a lot of trouble for it.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

What is to keep people from using free Wi-Fi Hotspots that are ATT-driven?  Starbucks and McDs still use ATT as their provider, but they no longer charge for it (and you no longer have to login as an ATT customer to use it).

You don't even have to buy anything, just sit in the parking lot and use it.

Could this be part of what is also overloading the system?

And bottom line is they are just refusing to upgrade their infrastructure?  Or is it really all about easy money?  Or both?

This is taking us back in time to Dial-Up!  Now you'll be watching the clock, uh, *meter*, constantly.

edit to edit subject change

[bld522]

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spd2demun wrote:

Now you'll be watching the clock, uh, *meter*, constantly.

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For all the good that will do you.  I've got a bridge for sale to ANYONE who's willing to trust AT&T's meter.

[sirmaru]

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antlive84 wrote:

How do I know how much data I am using per month?

Thanks for your help.

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That is the key question.  How do we measure our usage on a daily basis?  I believe ATT is working on a site to provide us with daily usage records.

However, that site is still under development and cannot yet be used.  It will be interesting to see one's own own usage records.  Then we will be able to judge how the new caps will affect us.

There is a free bandwidth monitor available here:

http://www.softperfect.com/products/networx/

Does anyone have an opinion if its any good?

[bld522]

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antlive84 wrote:

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How do we measure our usage on a daily basis? 

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You can't.  AT&T will do it for you . . . but not on a daily basis and not in a timely manner.

Sort of makes you feel warm and fuzzy all over, doesn't it?

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

But the problem with *their* meter is it will work like the one for data on the Wireless side. 

Several users of that device over there have said it is far from accurate!

[bld522]

No kidding.  Imagine that . . .

Dingaling-aling.  Time to wake up, folks.  Once AT&T starts telling you how much broadband you're consuming each month, the fox will be guarding the henhouse.

[ScottMac]

There's a pretty good article on HighTechForum ( http://www.hightechforum.org/atts-usage-caps-and-video-piracy/ )

They give some numbers based on Netflix's own bandwidth test (real numbers!) from a few months ago.

For example (quoting the site):

This is not a “back of the envelope calculation” per Mr. Roettgers, this is an actual measurement that works out to 675 Kilobytes per hour. That comes out to 222 hours of streaming TV per month, or 7 hours a day plus change, for ADSL users with the 150 Gigabyte cap (in reality, their actual streaming rate will be lower than the 1.5 Mbps figure that averages all rate plans, including the higher speed VDSL+ plan known as U-Verse.) For U-Verse users, the 250 Gigabyte cap allows a maximum of 370 hours of streaming per month, but probably a bit less as they’re going to be able to handle higher resolution.

AT&T will sell additional bandwidth for $10 per 50 Gigabytes, a generally fair price given the economics of broadband. The excess capacity fee is roughly a 400% markup over the OpEx cost of bandwidth, a typical multiplier that leaves just enough profit on the table to cover the CapEx costs of the long-term bandwidth crunch.

To put these numbers in context, the average American watches a whopping 6.75 hours of TV each day, so if all of AT&T’s broadband customers cut the cord completely on broadcast TV and substituted Netflix, AT&T’s new plan would not raise their prices, so there’s no meaningful argument to be had with this plan in terms of the transition from broadcast TV to Internet TV. AT&T is saying: “bring it on.”

( March 15th, 2011 by Richard Bennett )

FWIW

[bld522]

That's all well and good, ScottMac.  But it doesn't overcome the fact that AT&T alone will be providing its customers with monthly usage data.  There will be NO governmental oversight, NO independent means of verifying AT&T's data, and NO avenue to challenge AT&T's data other than to AT&T itself.  I won't ask you if you're comfortable with that arrangement.  But I'd sure like to know how many bridges you've purchased lately.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

It's not over 'til the fat lady sings.

[bld522]

Well I wish she'd start singing 'cause I can't hear her yet.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

  Just trying to lighten the mood.

[EOC_Jason]

I wonder if we should start a thread for people interested in alternate internet providers? I've read talk about Comcast, Charter, Knology, Clear, etc, etc... and while the big guys are fine there's probably more ISPs than people know about in their area. Check DSL Reports, do a service search, and then "Locate nearest small, independent, ISP near ZIP"...

For instance, here in Houston, besides AT&T and Comcast, two very popular alternates that offer DSL are:

HAL-PC (Houston Area Leage of PC Users)

Oplink.net

Sure I might not get the top peak speeds that U-verse or Comcast offers, but at least they are TRUE unlimited bandwidth...

[bld522]

Yep.  They're called CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers).  They exist primarily in large urban areas and they provide an alternative to ILECs (Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers) like AT&T.  Problem is, some of the CLECs are bound by the TOS of their provisioning ILECs.  So even though a CLEC can tell you that they don't cap their customers, you may be subject to caps anyway.  And if you are, you may have to deal directly with the provisioning ILEC, not your CLEC, in the event of an overage.

You've got to do your homework.  It's a real snakepit out there.

[flhthemi]

Just saw AT&Ts add on the local NBC station here in the Charlotte NC area! A little local program Charlotte Today did a segment that was recorded by AT&T and played OTA this morning. So i went the Charlotte Today Facebook page and let them know how *I* feel about AT&T U-Verse!

{Keep it Relevant: no unauthorized solicitations/invitations to join}

[kyaMega]

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ScottMac wrote:

There's a pretty good article on HighTechForum ( http://www.hightechforum.org/atts-usage-caps-and-video-piracy/ ) ...

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That article is ironically equally as misleading as the one he is referencing.  He does not distinguish between SD and HD (and there is a big difference).  It is also somewhat useless to assume that every single bit of traffic would be used for Netflix and then compute it out to max hours.  What about people that use Carbonite, Steam, Xbox Live, PSN, PC Gaming, YouTube, surf the web, and have 5+ simultaneous users in the house?  Now how much is left for Netflix?  Well.  I could tell you if there was a bandwidth meter that worked.  LOL

Finally, he makes a very silly point about how the low usage users are supplementing the high usage users and how paying per usage is fairer.  Well, I actually agree with that, but that is not what AT&T is proposing.  They want the low usage users to continue to supplement the high usage users, but then ALSO charge extra to the high usage users so they are charging EVERYONE more than they should or need to.  The only way a meter is fair is if your bill starts at $0 and you pay per GB the same rate to all (like gasoline, water, electricity, etc).

[bld522]

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kyaMega wrote:

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I could tell you if there was a bandwidth meter that worked . . .

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AND it was one you could trust AND it reported data usage in a timely manner!

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kyaMega wrote:

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The only way a meter is fair is if your bill starts at $0 and you pay per GB the same rate to all (like gasoline, water, electricity, etc).

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+1.

[jmsherman8]

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kdroop wrote:

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kyaMega wrote:

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sirmaru wrote:

There goes my streaming Netflix movie watching.  I'll have to just rely on the Netflix Blue Ray and DVD movies now.  Netflix probably triggered the ATT move by bragging that all their movies would be only streamed over the internet in 5 years.

I'm getting one of those new Sony / Google / Netflix 40" TV's.  I guess now it will only be the TV part I will use.  The rest just went obsolete before  I even received it.   I'm going to cancel it tomorrow and buy another one without internet access or just forget a new TV altogether.  ATT just made that internet movie access OBSOLETE.

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This makes me very sad.  Please do not punish Netflix, Sony, and Google for the sins of AT&T.  Punish AT&T.  

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How do you punish ATT and you have no options.

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There is almost always an option. Even Comcast is unlimited if you go business class. You file for a dba that costs $15, and have them drop a low end business class cable modem $60.00 / month last I checked. It will run at about 12mps down and 2 mps up with no cap. It costs a bit more but at least you don't have to worry about a huge overage bill.

[jmsherman8]

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oldie_1 wrote:

Just cancel the AT@T service. Everyone needs to. I am going to if they do not rescind this policy.

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Canceling service and moving to another provider is the best form of protest. ATT will quickly change this if see a large shift in there customer base. Also the other broadband providers will probably suddenly decide that capped internet is not such a good idea either.

[sirmaru]

I reacted to the ATT email received last night.  I went over to Best Buy and cancelled my order for that new Sony / Google 40" HD TV.  When I went to the return desk, they told me 8 TV's had also been cancelled before I got there.

ATT, thank you, you just cost Best Buy, Sony and Google some business.

[jmsherman8]

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spd2demun wrote:

What is to keep people from using free Wi-Fi Hotspots that are ATT-driven?  Starbucks and McDs still use ATT as their provider, but they no longer charge for it (and you no longer have to login as an ATT customer to use it).

You don't even have to buy anything, just sit in the parking lot and use it.

Could this be part of what is also overloading the system?

And bottom line is they are just refusing to upgrade their infrastructure?  Or is it really all about easy money?  Or both?

This is taking us back in time to Dial-Up!  Now you'll be watching the clock, uh, *meter*, constantly.

edit to edit subject change

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It is all about the money man. All about the money.