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Increasingly, Internet providers across the country are placing such limits on the amount of
data users can upload and download each month, as a way to curb a small number of
"bandwidth hogs" who use a lot of the network capacity. For instance, 5 percent of AT&T's
subscribers take up 50 percent of the capacity, spokesman Michael Coe said Tuesday.
But the restrictions that Internet providers are setting are tentative. And the companies differ
on what limits to set and whether to charge users for going beyond the caps.
Starting in November, AT&T will limit downloads to 20 gigabytes per month for users of their
slowest DSL service, at 768 kilobits per second. The limit increases with the speed of the
plan, up to 150 gigabytes per month at the 10 megabits-per-second level.
To exceed the limits, subscribers would need to download constantly at maximum speeds
for more than 42 hours, depending on the tier. In practice, use of e-mail and the Web wouldn't
take a subscriber anywhere near the limit, but streaming video services like the one Netflix
Inc. (NFLX) offers could. For example, subscribers who get downloads of 3 megabits per
second have a monthly cap of 60 gigabytes, which allows for the download of about 30
DVD-quality movies.
The limits will initially apply to new customers in the Reno area, AT&T said. Current users will
be enrolled if they exceed 150 gigabytes in a month, regardless of their connection speed.
"This is a preliminary step to find the right model to address this trend," Coe said. The
company may add another market to the test before the end of the year, he said.
Customers will be able to track their usage on an AT&T Web site. The company will also
contact people who reach 80 percent of their limit. After a grace period to get subscribers
acquainted with the system, those who exceed their allotment will pay $1 per gigabyte, Coe
said.
Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) (CMCSA), the nation's second-largest Internet service provider and
AT&T's competitor in Reno, last month officially began a nationwide traffic limit of 250
gigabytes per subscriber. Comcast doesn't charge people extra for going over the limit, but
will cancel service after repeated warnings. Previously, it had a secret limit.
Two other ISPs, Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC) (TWC) and FairPoint Communications Inc.
(FRP) (FRP), are planning or testing traffic limits as low as 5 gigabytes per month, which is
easily exceeded by watchers of DVD-quality online video.
data users can upload and download each month, as a way to curb a small number of
"bandwidth hogs" who use a lot of the network capacity. For instance, 5 percent of AT&T's
subscribers take up 50 percent of the capacity, spokesman Michael Coe said Tuesday.
But the restrictions that Internet providers are setting are tentative. And the companies differ
on what limits to set and whether to charge users for going beyond the caps.
Starting in November, AT&T will limit downloads to 20 gigabytes per month for users of their
slowest DSL service, at 768 kilobits per second. The limit increases with the speed of the
plan, up to 150 gigabytes per month at the 10 megabits-per-second level.
To exceed the limits, subscribers would need to download constantly at maximum speeds
for more than 42 hours, depending on the tier. In practice, use of e-mail and the Web wouldn't
take a subscriber anywhere near the limit, but streaming video services like the one Netflix
Inc. (NFLX) offers could. For example, subscribers who get downloads of 3 megabits per
second have a monthly cap of 60 gigabytes, which allows for the download of about 30
DVD-quality movies.
The limits will initially apply to new customers in the Reno area, AT&T said. Current users will
be enrolled if they exceed 150 gigabytes in a month, regardless of their connection speed.
"This is a preliminary step to find the right model to address this trend," Coe said. The
company may add another market to the test before the end of the year, he said.
Customers will be able to track their usage on an AT&T Web site. The company will also
contact people who reach 80 percent of their limit. After a grace period to get subscribers
acquainted with the system, those who exceed their allotment will pay $1 per gigabyte, Coe
said.
Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) (CMCSA), the nation's second-largest Internet service provider and
AT&T's competitor in Reno, last month officially began a nationwide traffic limit of 250
gigabytes per subscriber. Comcast doesn't charge people extra for going over the limit, but
will cancel service after repeated warnings. Previously, it had a secret limit.
Two other ISPs, Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC) (TWC) and FairPoint Communications Inc.
(FRP) (FRP), are planning or testing traffic limits as low as 5 gigabytes per month, which is
easily exceeded by watchers of DVD-quality online video.
NEW YORK (AP) - AT&T Inc. (ATT), the country's largest Internet
service provider, is testing the idea of limiting the amount of data
that subscribers can use each month.
AT&T will initially apply the limits in Reno, Nev., and see about
extending the practice elsewhere.
service provider, is testing the idea of limiting the amount of data
that subscribers can use each month.
AT&T will initially apply the limits in Reno, Nev., and see about
extending the practice elsewhere.
AT&T is goose stepping on your Internet usage