Comcast....again Options

[dauss]

Seriously, this company has some problem. Anti-p2p, packet shaping, bandwidth caps, and now this:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...WrIUOwD95R55FG1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Comcast Corp., the nation's biggest cable TV operator, is being investigated by the Federal Communications Commission over concerns that it is giving preferential treatment to its phone service at the expense of similar services from competitors.

In a letter to Comcast on Sunday, the FCC asked Comcast to justify this "disparate treatment."

Philadelphia-based Comcast said it is reviewing the FCC's letter. It has until Jan. 30 to respond.

Comcast last year changed the way it handles Internet traffic after the FCC cracked down on its practice of delaying peer-to-peer file sharing, an issue that outraged supporters of "network neutrality," which is the idea that Internet service providers should not give certain types of online data better treatment than others. Now, Comcast is slowing down traffic for heavy users if there is Internet congestion in their area, regardless of what type of data they are consuming.

Comcast indicated in a regulatory filing that an Internet phone call placed when the network is congested could sound "choppy." But the FCC noted that Comcast's Web site says that its own phone service is routed over a separate network instead of the public Internet and won't be affected by its new network management practices.

The FCC said that if Comcast isn't routing calls over its broadband network, the phone service could be classified as a telecommunications service subject to regulation and intercarrier fees that phone companies currently pay.

Ben Scott, policy director of consumer advocacy group Free Press, said his group is pleased that the FCC's past sanction on Comcast over its network management practices wasn't a "one-and-done action."

Comcast must submit a response by Jan. 30.

I guess we'll see what comes of this probe, but looking at Comcast's track record, I wouldn't be surprised if they found out that they were giving network priority for their own internet phone service.

[Mommy]

We got a letter from Comcast a few months ago that stated they were having to increase cable charges because they were going to add more channels. So, I'm thinking like at most a $1.00 increase. Nope. Our cable bill went up $10 and some change, and we have yet to see any new channels. Comcast, you suck balls. If I could have Time Warner, I would. I was always satisfied with TW.

[THECHICKEN]

ATT U-verse is the best thing i've ever had. Time Warner can't even compete with the prices i get from U-verse.

[Mommy]

If cable wasn't included in our rent, I would sooo change to another company. We upgraded to digital so we pay a small difference, hence the $10 increase.

[woody]

i just moved from Time Warner to U-Verse

thank god for someone other than TW in el paso...finally

[Spectatrix]

I'll have to look at U-Verse when we move, though I'm skittish about DSL after my horrid experience with SBC in Lubbock. Right now we just have Roadrunner, no TV cable.

Edit: Guh, apparently U-Verse isn't available at our current address (Grande isn't either). Free market FAIL.

This post has been edited by Spectatrix: Jan 22 2009, 11:51 AM