AT&T To Cap DSL Internet Data Usage At 150GB

You know what I'm ticked-off about now besides the cap...i'm supposed to have 6MB down and i'm lucky if I break 800K. After this year is up, ima just downgrade to 768K...as long as my ping is good for online games that's all i'm worried about. AT&T is the only game in town for me, but they can suck-it. Worse part about it is- I'm one block from the main AT&T hub/building for this region.

Speedtest.net just clocked me @ 6.16 MB down...that's BS. When ever i'm downloading something big @ 750-800KB down, I can hardly navigate to a news website or Hardforum without the page taking a long time to load and being incomplete and with errors. Unless its a thing with multiple connections...I don't understand why. :confused:
 
If you have a 6 Mbps connection, then 800 KBps is normal. If it's actually suppose to be 6 MBps down, then you should have a 50 Mbps connection.

You're not getting confused between MBps and Mbps are you?
 
krotch said:
If you have a 6 Mbps connection, then 800 KBps is normal. If it's actually suppose to be 6 MBps down, then you should have a 50 Mbps connection.
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Ahh I see...megabits...not megabytes. lol...I've been thinking it was megabytes all along.

I get -10 points internets. :p
 
So glad I'm with FIOS now and not AT&T.

And I don't even pirate movies and games.
 
dR.Jester said:
All consumers have to do is vote with their wallet, the more customers AT&T lose, the better off everyone are.
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IN a free competitive market this would work, but since AT&T is the only provider in many of the markets it serves it won't. IN many markets ISP's and cable companies have even been granted local monopolies by cities and towns.

I am lucky to be in a town where I have options. My options are currently Verizon FiOS, Verizon DSL or Comcast Cable internet.

However, if Verizon and Comcast look at AT&T and decide - "Hey, this is a pretty good idea" I would be SOL. There is nowhere else I can go for broadband.

Broadband simply is not a competitive market because of all the monopolies and underserved areas and as such we can not trust market forces to be effective. This is why this industry needs very strong regulation, which the FCC is currently completely failing at.
 
spacing guild said:
Ahh I see...megabits...not megabytes. lol...I've been thinking it was megabytes all along.

I get -10 points internets. :p
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Yep, you are actually getting more than the advertised rate. 6Mbps translates in to 768KB/s. Add to that TCP overhead of anywhere from 5 to 30% on top of the 800KB/s you are experiencing and you are actually getting somewhere between 6.5 and 8.1Mbps, quite a bit more than advertised.
 
Tzzird said:
So glad I'm with FIOS now and not AT&T.

And I don't even pirate movies and games.
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You do not need to even touch torrents to hit the 250 gig monthly limit set by Uverse. At&t's bullshit response to the limit is "only 1-2 percent of customers use this kind of bandwidth blah blah" which of course doesn't account for things like anyone trying to work out of the home that has to do large transfers or families that collectively use services like Netflix/Steam/Hulu.

Before At&t announced the cap I was going to cancel my Uverse TV service and just use Netflix and Hulu plus but its obvious that this is exactly what At&t is scared to death about. They want total control over all digital entertainment were they can charge a nice healthy access fee.

The only service in my area that doesn't have a real bandwidth cap is Comcast Business but I loathe Comcast and there shitty connections. They always have huge dips in speed throughout the day and I've been down that road with them , I'm not interested in spending hours on the phone trying to re explain myself constantly.

But I will be moving soon and I'm aiming to have FiOS access which will be a dream come true and it doesn't seem like bandwidth caps will ever come to that service.
 
Any ides what's comcast internet only plan? I see therie performance class as lowest for 29.99 bur price will be bump to 44.99 for 7-12 month and what is their average rate in chicago area?
 
xellos2099alpha said:
Any ides what's comcast internet only plan? I see therie performance class as lowest for 29.99 bur price will be bump to 44.99 for 7-12 month and what is their average rate in chicago area?
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Performance - After 12 months it'll be close to 59.95 per month.
Performance Starter - Half the speed is about $10 less per month.
Blast - About 50% faster is about $10 more per month.

They may also require Basic TV service of 4.95 per month, atleast that's what they're doing around here. I have no idea what typical Chicago download speeds are.
 
After several years using AT&T DSL stuck at a speed of 6MB (5MB actual), and AT&T having no plans to upgrade speeds, or offer Uverse in my area, I dumped them. I now have Charter's 16MB tier, and regularly get 28-32MB. I couldn't be happier.
 
-PK- said:
Performance - After 12 months it'll be close to 59.95 per month.
Performance Starter - Half the speed is about $10 less per month.
Blast - About 50% faster is about $10 more per month.

They may also require Basic TV service of 4.95 per month, atleast that's what they're doing around here. I have no idea what typical Chicago download speeds are.
Click to expand...

I just upgraded to their highest residential plan (chicago suburb) which is their extreme package (50 Mbps). I really dig the speed increase which doubles my previous plan. I'm getting twice the speed for twice the price. Currently this costs $99/month.

It's pretty consistent throughout the day.
 
IMHO, when I pay for 10Mbit/s monthly I am paying for:

10/8*60*60*24*30/1024/1024 = 3TB/month down.

So if I pay for 20Mbit/s down, I am paying for 6TB per month down.

If I pay for 30Mbit per second (which I currently am) I am paying for 9TB per month down.

This is - however - not ALL I am paying for. In my case I am also paying for 30Mbit/s UP, which is an additional 9TB up.

Any of MY 3 TB per month I am not using is my own discretion and any limitation of my service below the 3TB per month per 10Mbit of service is going to invoke my wrath.
 
Godmachine said:
At&t's bullshit response to the limit is "only 1-2 percent of customers use this kind of bandwidth blah blah" which of course doesn't account for things like anyone trying to work out of the home that has to do large transfers or families that collectively use services like Netflix/Steam/Hulu.
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Seriously this. And what of people's itunes and steam libraries? What if their hard drives fail? My steam library isn't even that big and I would hit over 200GB on that alone.


Statistics time!
AT&T openly admitted that their network can't bear having more than 1-2% of users using their product for more than an average of 41.7 out of 734 hours per month...that's 5.6% of usage until you hit your monthly cap!
 
Zarathustra[H];1037192121 said:
IMHO, when I pay for 10Mbit/s monthly I am paying for:

10/8*60*60*24*30/1024/1024 = 3TB/month down.

So if I pay for 20Mbit/s down, I am paying for 6TB per month down.

If I pay for 30Mbit per second (which I currently am) I am paying for 9TB per month down.

This is - however - not ALL I am paying for. In my case I am also paying for 30Mbit/s UP, which is an additional 9TB up.

Any of MY 3 TB per month I am not using is my own discretion and any limitation of my service below the 3TB per month per 10Mbit of service is going to invoke my wrath.
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To follow up on this, if my monthly limit were to be 150GB, then I am only paying for an average rate of 485kbit/s down. This is not broadband. We are almost getting down to ISDN levels here...
 
welcome to the broadband future, where unlimited means limited to shit !

Just look at what tmobile does- Their "unlimited" data plan has a 2gb cap !!
WTF is that ?!?!

caps everywhere, wireless and broadband.

however, I have read that tmo's unlimited data plan throttles your speed big time after 2gb. so you can go over the cap, but your speed goes down big time.

I would actually prefer throttling speed than paying an extra $10 for 50gb. That's a fucking rip off.
 
dR.Jester said:
All consumers have to do is vote with their wallet, the more customers AT&T lose, the better off everyone are.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately no. The only real way we as American consumers are ever going to get any satisfactory service is if we either A) convince our respective local communities to build and run our own broadband networks or B) Immigrate out of the United States to a country where large corporations do not run the government.

It's been a long time coming but Big Telecom in this country are on a mission to "own" the internet. And they'll win too because we live in an Inverted Totalitarian society.

How the Phone Companies Are Screwing America: The $320 Billion Broadband Rip-Off

Time Warner and Embarq can't compete with city-owned ISP, trying to outlaw it

North Carolina Update: Porn Debate Temporarily Derails Marilyn Avila’s Anti-Broadband Bill

Community Broadband Networks
 
beto said:
The American people are fucking sheep.
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Agreed.

The sheep have been convinced that government regulation is evil by te very companies that are screwing them over, taking their money and then using it to own the political system.

We dot really live in a democracy anymore in America. We live in a country where the leadership is determined by whomever has the most money. (hint, it's not the private citizenry.)
 
Zarathustra[H];1037192585 said:
Agreed.

The sheep have been convinced that government regulation is evil by te very companies that are screwing them over, taking their money and then using it to own the political system.

We dot really live in a democracy anymore in America. We live in a country where the leadership is determined by whomever has the most money. (hint, it's not the private citizenry.)
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I love how I can't edit my typos I wrote while using my phone...
 
In the past, I've been resistant to TWC for services, but I think I'm going to give them a call and see what they can do for me.
 
Just wanted to quote and say that I am still getting this and the new rules are supposed to start in less than 24 hours. Looks like I get to keep using as much bandwidth as I want for now... :)

[AK]Zip;1037166252 said:
Pretty sad this bandwidth shit is supposed to activate in a week and I still haven't received anything in the mail or email and when I log into www.MyUsage.att.com I still get a message that the service is down.

"The U-verse data measurement report is currently under construction. When completed, you will be notified if your usage exceeds the allowance. Until that time, U-verse customers should not be concerned about their usage patterns for billing purposes.

To learn more about how to manage your usage, please visit www.att.com/internet-usage"

I may be switching from AT&T U-Verse very soon...
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odoe said:
In the past, I've been resistant to TWC for services, but I think I'm going to give them a call and see what they can do for me.
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that was their evil plan from day one. They are like sleeper cells. They'll wait as long as it takes....
 
dr.kevin said:
welcome to the broadband future, where unlimited means limited to shit !

Just look at what tmobile does- Their "unlimited" data plan has a 2gb cap !!
WTF is that ?!?!

caps everywhere, wireless and broadband.

however, I have read that tmo's unlimited data plan throttles your speed big time after 2gb. so you can go over the cap, but your speed goes down big time.

I would actually prefer throttling speed than paying an extra $10 for 50gb. That's a fucking rip off.
Click to expand...

Same thing with ATT mobile data.
 
Alright, so caps take effect tomorrow...

AT&T allows you to go over your cap three times before they start hitting you with overages. Worst-case, we have three months before we start seeing overage.

Looks like I'll be switching to Earthlink in three months >_>
 
So is it like three months in a rolling 12 month period? If so you get three months a.year you can blow it out and then start over?
 
Zarathustra[H];1037190762 said:
I haven't had a landline phone since 2002, bit back when I did I recall it being almost $60 a month just for the basic phone service alone (without long distance).

This was the biggest reason I just dropped it.
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Before I moved, I also dropped phone service. But then I moved and bought a house. At the time, AT&T didn't offer a phone-free version of DSL, so I got phone & DSL. Since then, they've offered just DSL. If I dump AT&T for Clear WiMax, I'll only go w/ Internet and no phone.

Man, over $60/mo. and restricted to 150 GB cap. Frustrating. I've been running BT the entire weekend trying to utilize unlimited BW before the cap starts tomorrow.
 
I use to have ATT and i was thinking of going back. but now after reading all of this, they can kiss my ***, i will stay with my 10mb cable connection with no limit cap on it, yeah sure its more, but its worth every penny,

I feel sorry for those of you, who have no choose but to who ATT, i hope you get more choices soon
 
My choices around here are TWC and U-Verse, in our area we had lots of problems with TWC throughout the 5 years we were with them, switched to U-Verse a year and a half ago and their service has been rock fucking solid here.

TWC used to randomly disconnect/reconnect even with my wired connection. The modem used to go out randomly and would have to be restarted a few times, they came to our house like 3 times to fix things but never ended up making it better.

We have been on the 3mb down plan until 2 weeks ago, they upped the price from 30 to 35$. So I decided to just upgrade to 12mb for only another 10$ a month. When I first heard about the cap I was thinking of switching back, as theres still no other viable options around here, however my friend has been having constant issues still with TWC here and he actually just switched to U-Verse today. I don't think I'll be going over the 250gb limit a month, but idk. It'd be nice not to have to think about it it.
 
I am a 33 year legally blind male who enjoys books I download from the NLSB (National Library Service for the Blind). I use the BARD service (Braille and Audio Recording Download). These books that are downloaded are in a proprietary format that can only be used with a compatible (DAISY complaint) player. Here is what the DA1 player looks like, there is also the DS1 which is the same thing minus the extra menu keys. These players are provided free of charge to people who are enrolled with the service. Cartridge based books are also available for those who don't have computers, or cannot use the website, these carts are inserted into the front of the player.

When material is sent from the library it is always "Free matter for the Blind and physically handicapped" which means that no postage is needed. Of course, I opted out of the cartridge service and only receive books via the BARD website. And here is the problem...I AM charged for this material, in the form of the "limited" bandwidth my suck ass cable company (CableOne) has decided is "reasonable". That is, 2GB per day (noon through midnight) and 200GB per billing month.

To me this is a matter of principle, if material coming from the NLSB is free matter for the blind and physically handicapped, then WHY do I have to "pay" for material coming from the same service in the form of my bandwidth? I mean, the post office doesn't dictate to the NLSB that they can only send shit between certain hours / days of the week for physical material sent out from their offices. The telecomm companies have decided that they can dictate how I use my connection, and how much so they can protect their fat salaries and to protect their shitty TV and other VOD type services, then I think they should have to exclude certain services from those caps as well. And before anyone says "Well hurrrr, just download them after or before those hours" see above.

The books can vary in size from 80MB to 150MB plus depending on book length and that can add up really quickly. I mean, I downloaded 16 books today almost maxing out my bandwidth for the day. This alone would not be a problem, but I also work from home which uses my connection and by the time my shift is over I will be over my limit which will cut my speed in half.

What do you all think? Am I off base here, or do I have a valid argument? I believe that it doesn't matter what "form" that info from the NLSB comes in, it should be treated all the same, FREE matter for the Blind and physically handicapped.
 
caps are a reality they wish to pinch the American consumer for every cent they can. if they change to a cellphone style usage billing then its time to get the pitchforks and torches for now lets just keep those items close by
 
dr.kevin said:
welcome to the broadband future, where unlimited means limited to shit !

Just look at what tmobile does- Their "unlimited" data plan has a 2gb cap !!
WTF is that ?!?!

caps everywhere, wireless and broadband.

however, I have read that tmo's unlimited data plan throttles your speed big time after 2gb. so you can go over the cap, but your speed goes down big time.

I would actually prefer throttling speed than paying an extra $10 for 50gb. That's a fucking rip off.
Click to expand...


The Tmobile ulimited plans are not all the same with the data caps. Some of the unlimited plans have a 5GB cap.

At least Tmobile doesn't charge extra for going over the cap speed. The throttle down sucks though. They should at least offer a way to get full speed back up. I'd pay $5 more to get full speeds when I need them. 2G speeds isn't too bad though.

Still though unlimited should be unlimited.

I don't see how any 4G/LTE/ect cell phone signal service company can legally be allowed to sell an "unlimited" data plan and then get away with down throttling or charging extra money.

FCC should be all over these companies that do this.

Another thing is that these new iPhones/Android Phones/Symbian Phones/ect that have high data applications and high bandwidth signal plans need more than 5GB cap. Should be at least 10GB. 5GB cap just isn't enough. Still would be best to just a marketed "unlimited data" plan honestly unlimited.
 
Damn I don't have any other options for internet other than signing up for a satellite contract that has a cap as well :(

Guess I better get ready for the internet dark ages...
 
Justintoxicated said:
Damn I don't have any other options for internet other than signing up for a satellite contract that has a cap as well :(

Guess I better get ready for the internet dark ages...
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Seriously, check and see if Earthlink is available in your area.

Earthlink buys bandwidth wholesale from AT&T and then redistributes it (and since AT&T hasn't screwed with their wholesale pricing, Earthlink can offer DSL without any type of data cap). They should operate in pretty much all of the same areas that AT&T DSL operates, and you wont even have to get a new DSL modem.

AT&T DSL, 6 megabit, 150GB cap = $38 a month
Earthlink DSL, 6 megabit, No Cap = $39 a month

Sounds good to me :D
 
Unknown-One said:
Seriously, check and see if Earthlink is available in your area.

Earthlink buys bandwidth wholesale from AT&T and then redistributes it (and since AT&T hasn't screwed with their wholesale pricing, Earthlink can offer DSL without any type of data cap). They should operate in pretty much all of the same areas that AT&T DSL operates, and you wont even have to get a new DSL modem.

AT&T DSL, 6 megabit, 150GB cap = $38 a month
Earthlink DSL, 6 megabit, No Cap = $39 a month

Sounds good to me :D
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Deal with sketchier packet loss and by the time he gets switched ATT will probably impose caps on wholesalers.
 
Switching to TWC Saturday. It's really sad I have to go this crap to make a statement. I've been perfectly happy with the service. It never drops; speeds are fast. Oh well -- TWC is a bit cheaper and has faster base speeds. Ping should be better with cable as well.

Vote with wallet!
 
nobody_here said:
Deal with sketchier packet loss and by the time he gets switched ATT will probably impose caps on wholesalers.
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Is this just an unfounded stab, or do you actually have proof that switching to Earthlink will cause packet loss and that AT&T plans to charge per-the-gigabyte to wholesale customers?

I don't see either one of those being a problem, honestly...
 
Unknown-One said:
Is this just an unfounded stab, or do you actually have proof that switching to Earthlink will cause packet loss and that AT&T plans to charge per-the-gigabyte to wholesale customers?

I don't see either one of those being a problem, honestly...
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Only founded on what I have been told by one guy and other random internet reports, that satellite is not as smooth as hardwired. Could be totally off.
 
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