Comcast Cutting off High Bandwidth Internet Users?

In another example of companies trying to weed out the 20% of users who chew up 80% of their usage, Comcast is appears to be terminating users who exceed some undisclosed bandwidth limit.  This realization follows closely on the heels of the news that Sprint has been dropping customers who make excessive calls to their customer support.

Upon further examination there is one distinct difference between these two situations.  Sprint is taking customers who are obviously unhappy with their service and forgiving any debt those customers have to Sprint, then releasing them from their contract after thirty days.  This grace period gives the user ample time to find another provider.  While I’m generally critical of some of the decisions Sprint makes, this makes sense for both parties.

This deal with Comcast is a completely different story.  It seems that they are cutting people off with little to no warning, and many times they’ve cut off service to people with no other high speed Internet carriers in their neighborhood.  For people who work at home this can be disastrous.

Adding to the “mystery”, Comcast refuses to detail what constitutes using too much bandwidth.  Comcast spokesperson Charlie Douglas refused to tell ConsumerAffairs.com on the record why Comcast’s bandwidth ceiling is a secret.  Comcast’s solution to the home user who is using too much bandwidth?  Buy their $1,500 per month business class service.

http://consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/08/comcast_ban.html?imw=Y 

http://comcastissue.blogspot.com/