Something Terrifying

[peristaltor]

We live in an era of rapid development, especially in media. It's nice to finally see digital tech leave the confines of the desktop computer and migrate, say, to the television through the DVR, or to the stereo through the iPod.

The possibilities are not, however, endless, since the companies that could make this brave new world with such gadgetry in it an affordable reality are currently taking steps to stifle innovation through the back door, if necessary.

Let's take, for one example, broadband internet access and all the glories made possible by this fat pipeline of available info. Podcasts, live feeds, hours of You Tube surfing -- not to mention the more insidious yet extremely commonplace practice of sharing unauthorized music and movies.

Let's extrapolate on what life could be when broadband accessories become more commonplace. Let's format this examination from a home_effinomic perspective, where each step one takes in acquisition reduces the overall cost of operating a home in the long term.

Let's say the long distance bills are stacking up. Why not take advantage of unused broadband and install Skype? If you like it, you can always upgrade to the available hardware for your phone, not just your desktop, and keep your monthly charges fixed. Once they get that niggling little 911 service problem resolved, voice over IP should start to become quite common indeed. And it doesn't use that much bandwidth. Score!

For the TV, there's a really promising tech in the development pipeline called Joost. From the makers of Kaaza, this TV-over-internet service should give viewers on-demand access to legitimate programing without relying on a central distribution model, the killer of most content-over-internet services. When the providers have to pay bandwidth for every viewer, the costs get most excessive. Joost would use a torrent distribution system. Still, even with a torrent, household bandwidth would probably run into the 2 gig of info per hour of Joost TV content provided (an off-the-cuff estimate).

Okay, so let's say you do these two simple things. For both to work very well, you would probably consider a cable internet connection. That's the fastest in the US, right? It's far better than, say, subscribing to both digital cable and Comcast's own VoIP services, given that getting all three, even with "bundling" discounts, would run the average household well over a hundred bucks a month.

Getting all three does do one thing: it takes advantage of the unused bandwidth. You see, when users of digital cable and cable VoIP are not using those Comcast services -- say, when the TV is off and no one is yapping on the phone -- the cable internet screams. That's the top speed they advertise ad nauseum. Once the TVs glow and the calls flood home, cable internet starts to slooooooow.

So, yeah, for the frugal household, that high monthly charge for speedy service that can be put to use for two other household services becomes a great deal.

There is just one wrinkle to this plan. This story shows that people who put their Comcast connections to use "too" much will lose all service:

Comcast asked Frank to cut back his unlimited internet usage. Frank was confused. He thought unlimited meant, well, unlimited. Frank was wrong. Very wrong. . . .

January 19, Frank tries to check his e-mail. No internet. No internet? . . .

Comcast accused Frank of downloading 305GB in November and 297GB in December. It's Comcast's policy to suspend any account that exceeds usage limits twice in any year. Doesn't Comcast advertise unlimited use? What are the usage caps? Comcast representatives would only say "I'm sorry but I cannot divulge that information."

So users of Skype and Joost, to cite just two examples, had best beware if they are using Comcast internet. They could, of course, simply avoid the situation entirely. The only way to do that, however, is to subscribe to Comcast Digital Cable.

That just burns me. It seems, after Comcast lost the net neutrality battle, they decided to nip their cable and telephone revenue losses in the bud by accusing high bandwidth users of imprudent useage.

Folks, rumor has it users in Europe can get screaming speeds at reasonable prices. Why? Because Comcast and others of its ilk have carte blanche to rip off consumers in the US. If they are allowed to cut off service to prevent competition, they open their sorry asses to charges of monopolistic practices.

I hope Comcast gets their day in court, and find their balls on a pike soon thereafter.