Time Warner/Comcast to start capping internet usages?

[SouthLink02 8]

http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/1598

Starting today, Time Warner subscribers in Beaumont, Texas will be able to choose from a number of different Internet service packages, ranging from a 768Kbps connection with a 5GB cap ($29.95 per month) up to a 15MBps connection with a 40GB cap ($54.90 per month). Any additional bandwidth used (either upstream or downstream) will be billed to the user at a rate of $1 per Gigabyte.

....................

So, might there be another way to regulate traffic by punishing only the heaviest users while leaving the rest of us to stream video in peace? Comcast seems to think so. In the wake of the controversy caused by the company’s Bit Torrent blockade, Comcast has begun testing a new method of network management that identifies which users are eating up the most bandwidth and temporarily imposes limits on those users during times of network strain. According to a FAQ published by Comcast, “the technique measures only aggregate bandwidth consumption, not the protocol or content being used by customers.” During times of network congestion, the technology “manages [the bandwidth usage of users] until their usage falls below established bandwidth usage thresholds or until network congestion ends.”

I had heard both companies would start doing this but I kind of getting worried about this because I use the internet now for my PS3, Wii, iPhone, and computers. I am sure I am not near those capped numbers but just the fact that they are capping it now worries me they may lower it in the future

[PChamp119 96]

That is interesting. I don't even have a clue how much bandwidth I use.