Sneaky Comcast Trick

[SuitablyTwisted]

What is wrong with Comcast?

http://www.spywareinfo.com/newslette...11.php#comcast

If you have or are thinking about using Comcast cable for your internet service, there are some things you should be aware of.

One of the most questionable things about them is their bandwidth usage limits. If a customer uses more than a certain amount of bandwidth, Comcast sends a warning. If your usage continues to remain high, they will disconnect your service. While that is nothing unusual, Comcast goes about it in a very unethical way. Comcast refuses to state what that limit is. How are you supposed to comply with a limit if they won't tell you what that limit is?

Another thing Comcast did in the past irritated me very greatly. When AT&T broadband closed up shop, they transferred their existing broadband customers to Comcast. AT&T agreed to forward their customers' attbi.com email to their new Comcast addresses. However, Comcast informed transferring customers that they would not receive their email forwarded from attbi.com if they did not use Comcast's "transition wizard", a program designed to configure email and other settings automatically.

That never sat right with me. I always wondered why they felt the need to demand that customers run that software. Several months later, the reason was revealed. It turns out that by installing that "transition wizard", you were agreeing to a very questionable license.

The license gave Comcast the right to do a credit check on their customers and then to disclose (or sell) that information to third parties. The license seems to allow Comcast the right to open and read a customer's email without informing them. The license allows Comcast to install new firmware on their customers' cable modem without notification, regardless of whether or not they own the modem (many people buy their own modem). The license also prohibits a customer from joining any future class-action lawsuits against the company.

Funny how none of that was mentioned when they were telling customers who didn't install their software that they would not receive their attbi.com email.

All of that is old news now but I thought I would mention it along with Comcast's newest example of obnoxious behavior. Comcast will be providing new customers with a Linksys wireless router that contains features for which I really have to question the need. It will allow Comcast remotely to detect computers attached to the router, examine their network usage on the local area network (LAN), see how much bandwidth they are using on the LAN and even allows them remotely to deny those computers access to the router.

I say this is going too far. From the router's internet port to Comcast's internet servers is Comcast's business. Everything on the customer's side of the network is none of their concern. What possible reason does Comcast have for snooping into someone's LAN and even disabling a device?

I plan to move in the near future. I sincerely hope to be able to receive either DSL or cable internet wherever I move. However, I refuse to consider Comcast as an ISP. Comcast is too intrusive and their policies and behavior are too questionable for me to spend any money with them.

[zaphodiv]

Comcast is allowing excessive amounts of spam to be sent from home machines on their network.

[rainbowdemon]

Comcast is in my area. But I got SBC Yahoo dsl instead.

[hawkburn]

Comcast is in my area. But I got SBC Yahoo dsl instead.

Same here. I don't think I could live with limits, and SBC is great... not the best features in terms of extras (newsgroups, etc) but they never ask questions.

[isus]

i have comcast, and i've not yet recieved this letter. then again, i'm not the dumbass who goes and downloads every little thing i want. bandwidth costs money, forgive comcast for being a business and trying to make a profit. honestly... as for the router, who's gonna buy it? let me count the hands evrybody just raised. hmm, nobody. darn. you can have your dsl, i'll take my 3mbps internet and go watch a movie or 2.

[Ken17625]

Wow, and I thought I had it bad.

I feel for you.

[origin]

definitely true all ISP's are in the trade to make money and if there b/w usage is cutting into there profit margins, then that could possibly warrent a concern on there part. But then again like most others seem to be suggesting here just get a ISP that doesnt ask no questions other than did you pay you're bill this month? lol. so get some ISP who doesn't care about you (sounds wierd doesn't it?) and you will be set transfer all the data you want to! shiiiit I do :)

l8

[shawners]

I just upgraded my dsl to 3 megs.. it was to 1.5. now its 1.5 to 3 megs.. so im good with SBC dsl. I had a friend who couldnt use her same user name for her comcast email after sbc cable sold it to comcast. She had to use a new email address name. Like pattyo was taken during transition or something. I understand bandwidth cost money, but get serious.. You dont list the limit or give people information on what not to go over. So more would go over it. I think people with comcast need to document it, use as much bandwidth and keep track of how much you use and see what the limit is.

[XtraNtnse]

I use Road Runner, never had any problems with them whatsoever.

[d3ft0n3s]

well if i had to use that router, id buy another one that had NAT support. problem solved.

[cjules13]

I hate Comcast. I got ripped off by them for about a year. One thing you didn't mention is their ridiculously high prices.

Only use Comcast if it is your last choice.

Oh, and Comcast has been gleefully cooperating with the RIAA and MPAA. Not even a whimper of respect for their customer's privacy, just handing over IDs and IPs en masse...

[fujow]

I've been using comcast for about 3 years. I go on news groups download gigs of stuff and never received anything from them. I brought my router from staples and i do not install any of the comcast software. I also have my firewall blocking them.

[isus]

in the past 3 days of uptime, i've downloaded 1.4gb. x10 for 30days, and you have 15gb. i've not gotten a letter from comcast. cjules: your information is flawed, no isp has been "gleefully cooperating" with the riaa or mpaa since the verizon/riaa ruling stating that the isp did not have to give up names. nobody has to give up an address, if someone sees you sharing, hey they have a number, comcast doesn't have anything to do with that.

you morons who don't like comcast mostly because you download an average hard drive every week or two. that's stupid as hell, and if you don't like comcast for that, fine. i don't use anything from comcast, bought the modem and wireless router on my own. never had to install any of the comcast software.

[rainbowdemon]

I just upgraded my dsl to 3 megs.. it was to 1.5. now its 1.5 to 3 megs.. so im good with SBC dsl. I had a friend who couldnt use her same user name for her comcast email after sbc cable sold it to comcast. She had to use a new email address name. Like pattyo was taken during transition or something. I understand bandwidth cost money, but get serious.. You dont list the limit or give people information on what not to go over. So more would go over it. I think people with comcast need to document it, use as much bandwidth and keep track of how much you use and see what the limit is.

I'm still getting 1.5 meg from SBC Yahoo. It's enough for me. Especially after having a 28kbs dial-up for 3 years!!

[cjules13]

cjules: your information is flawed, no isp has been "gleefully cooperating" with the riaa or mpaa since the verizon/riaa ruling stating that the isp did not have to give up names. nobody has to give up an address, if someone sees you sharing, hey they have a number, comcast doesn't have anything to do with that.

bullshit dude. More people have been sued on Comcast than any other ISP - even weighted for population... don't make me go through the math. They haven't even tried to oppose the suits, only Verizon and SBC have. They've been a bunch of "yes men" for the RIAA and send out letters for the MPAA like no tomorrow. I know, I received my share.

Plus all that stuff beside, THEY HAVE RIP-OFF PRICES. Highest by far in my area. Virtually pathetic - I don't know how they stay in business. Not to mention their "transistion wizard" mentioned above which I had to deal with and was equally shady.

While you're sitting on Comcast paying 15-20% more for the same thing I have now from their competition, and you're receiving your RIAA notice, I'll be laughing all the way to the bank.

Comcast sucks.

(Look at their laughable on-screen menu for their digital cable. It's the Fisher Price version of Baby's First BB Cable) :black