Comcast is introducing a “data meter” to broadband customers in Washington state on Tuesday to help customers keep track of broadband consumption — and avoid hitting the company’s controversial data usage cap.
Today, here in Seattle, Comcast announced that it will make available a meter in which customer can check on there broadband usage. The purpose is so that people will know when they reach the Comcast limit of 250 GBs a month. According to Comcast, about 1% of the customer base in Seattle surpass that limit. They also say that these broadband hogs negatively effect the other 99% that don’t even come close to the limit. Which begs the question in my mind: how could the 1% be such a burden? Comcast also let it be known that if you get caught going past the limit twice in 6 months, they will cut your service off for a year. What! You mean I give you the privilege of over-charging me and when I dare to get the most for my dollar you cut me off. Are they for real? Moreover, I just don’t having my usage being so available as I’m sure there are (or will be myriad ways that Comcast will be able to dig in and monitor what your surfing. The money quote though is, “We may change our practice but will, of course, provide notice to the customer of any change.” Yup, today broadband meter. Tomorrow all knowing monitoring device. Well, thank you Comcast for making it so easy. I will not be using your service anymore for cable, broadband or phone. Hope you’ll be able to see that on your customer base meter!
