Is Comcast Already Undermining Net Neutrality?

Comcast has plenty of reasons to not like Netflix's popular streaming service. Not only does it compete with Comcast's own video on demand services, but it does so using Comcast's internet services. But them charging an extra toll for delivering Netflix doesn't seem right.

Unfortunately, that's just what they're doing. Level 3 Communications, which helps deliver Netflix's streaming movies, has been hit with a new toll for delivering streaming video content. Essentially, this goes against the idea of net neutrality, allowing for an ISP like Comcast to favor its own content over that of another website or provider.

It's certainly a lousy precedent to set! Hopefully net neutrality will be come law soon to nip this sort of nastiness in the bud.

Read the whole article here at the NY Times.

[NY Times via Dvice]

Who's Looking Out For Us Now? You've GOT to be KIDDING!!!

If only it was our friend from yesteryear "Yes I'm Only a Bill, and I'm Waiting Here on Capital Hill". Nooooo. Now the people who are advocating for consumer rights on the web is... (Click if you want to have all your hope go down the sewer.)

Will Cable, Dish Providers Continue To Charge For DTV?

One of the things that I've been waiting on will finally become reality early next year, full digital broadcasting. With all TV broadcasters forced to transmit only in digital by the February 17, 2009 date, an interesting thought came to me. Once this becomes the standard, will cable companies like Comcast stop charging people for digital service?

Digital service will be the standard and will no longer be a premium that should be charged for. All the HD channel premium monthly service that Comcast, Dish Network, or DirectTV charge for will cease right? Not likely.

Now I'm not sure how they will justify charging you for service that will be the standard across the board. And perhaps they will stop, but get the feeling that they won't without a phone call. Considering that this will cut into the revenue of the cable and satellite providers, I'm sure that they have a contingency plan on how to make that money back. It certainly might be worth your time to find out what they have in store for you, before the February 17, 2009 deadline.

Or you can sit back and see what happens. I'm sure the cable company has your best interests in mind.

Law Introduced To Make Internet Traffic Shaping Illegal

I love Comcast!!!

With lawsuits hitting them in the face for Internet traffic shaping, Comcast finally admitted to the deed. Comcast was slowing down traffic from bittorrents, stating that they're doing it for the greater good of all of their customers. I have to call B.S on that, but that argument is for another day. So you would think with all the lawsuits Comcast would stop slowing down traffic, nope. They changed their terms of Service to state that they have the right to "shape" internet traffic.

That's just great!!!

Well it looks like there are some people in this world who think that is just plain dumb. A bill will be introduced to the House that will prevent Comcast or any other ISP from Internet traffic shaping. This is in the best interest of the public who can't have their Internet messed with because of the reliability of services like VoIP.

I'm glad that this bill was introduced, with the hope that it will stop the insanity that is Comcast. Sometimes, they think that we work for them!

Comcast Defends Role As Internet Traffic Cop [Washington Post via Crunchgear]

Does cable, satellite, or fiber provide more HD?

Particularly of late, cable television providers have been bullying each other on the air and proudly proclaiming superiority in the high-definition department. One would immediately assume that there's some black and white somewhere in this equation, but honestly, things are pretty gray. Hard though it may be to believe, there actually isn't a clear cut answer to this week's Ask Engadget HD question, which comes to us from the bewildered mind of Brian:"I want an unbiased opinion, and more importantly, the facts. DISH Network is looking more and more like the leading HD provider with its weekly HD additions this past fall. However, now my local cable provider, Comcast, is running ads stating that it has More, More, More HD. My question is simple: who has more HD channels including and not including HD VOD?"The inability to find a clear cut answer hasn't stopped us from forging ahead in the past, and it won't be slowing us down today, either. Ready to plunge deep into the increasingly murky waters of HD offerings?

Read the full story here!

Phone Numbers That Comcast Doesn’t Want You To Know

If you’ve been in the Cable or Internet game long enough, you’ve most likely have had a run in with Comcast. I’ve had them for Cable and Internet, so it goes without saying how much I was happy to go to another service. Partly because of their expensive service, but mainly because of the ass clowns that are behind the scenes taking your calls and complaints. These script reading monkeys on a rope keep you locked in what I’ve come to understand as the 10^th level of phone carousel hell, transferring you round and round but never really helping or answering any question that you have. If I have to tell the same flip’n story to another non-thinking, phone dwelling drone before he transfers me to another ass hole that also can’t help me, I’m going to open up a vein. Well the Consumerist has come up with the ultimate list that Comcast doesn’t want you to see, the secret unpublished 26 direct numbers for level 2.5 and above Comcast supervisors.

That’s right!

You can actually talk to someone who knows what they’re talking about, and they actually work for Comcast! What a concept huh?

26 Secret Comcast Supervisor Phone Numbers [Consumerist via Crunchgear]

Comcast Has A Mole, Starts Blog

I think I've found a new blog that I'll be checking in on from time to time. Comcast has a mole inside, you might remember that leaked the Bit-Torrent memo. Well they're taking it to the next level by starting up their own blog that will air all of Comcast dirty laundry.

A quote from the first post: "I am just trying to help spread the truth about how screwed up Comcast is," The insider goes on to say: "I am not trying to hurt Comcast's reputation or bad talk them, I think they do a good enough job themselves...You will find a lot of good information here. The information you want to see as a consumer and they don't."

Let me tell ya, this could not have happened to a better company. And I look forward to the day that AT&T, Sony, Microsoft, and Apple have similar insiders to provide consumers with information that those companies try to hid from their customers. Perhaps this will make these companies do the right thing, and not always look for a way to screw the customers.

I'll be check'n this blog out, as I'm sure Comcast will too.

[Inside Comcast via Gizmodo]

Comcast: Competition Will Bring Higher Rates, What?!

As you know I don't like long posts, but I'm in rant mode over this one, so please bare with me.

If you've ever lived in an apartment or condo complex, you might have run into the situation of the association only giving you the option of one cable company to go with. I've always though that is was a little unfair, and didn't give people the chance to choose which cable company they would like to go with. Well the FCC finally thought the same thing, and overturned the "exclusive contracts" that cable companies have enjoyed for decades.

FCC Chairman Kevin J Martin said “Exclusive contracts have been one of the most significant barriers to competition,” he also stated that cable rates have risen over 93% in the last decade. I'm not even sure if gas prices have risen that much in the last decade. So how does Comcast respond to the ruling? By stating that they may have to raise rates because it'll cost money to compete with other companies, and it will cost more to fight this ruling in court.

What?!

So they're going to raise rates because they can't continue to get over on people by locking them into using their company. They're going to raise rates because they will have to ADVERTISE more? That is the one of the dumbest things I've ever heard!!! Check this out from Techdirt:

“The following statement may be attributed to Sena Fitzmaurice, [Comcast] Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Government Relations: ‘Consumers in apartment buildings and condos across the nation received a blow today from the action taken by the FCC. The result of this decision is likely to be higher prices for services and years of litigation and uncertainty for consumers. The significant concessions building owners have been able to bargain for on behalf of their residents will be lost.’”

Hey Moron, for once the FCC did something that actually benefited the customer. Stop trying to make it sound like you're on our side. Oh and the FCC didn't deal us a blow, they freed us from having to deal with your continuous price raises. And if there is "likely to be higher prices for services and years of litigation" guess what, people finally have the choice to go to your competitor. Ya see, that's how it's supposed to work in this country.

Raise all the prices you want, people have a choice now!!!

Corporate Doublespeak: By Forcing Competition On The Market, We Will Need To Raise Prices [Techdirt via Crunchgear]

Comcast Tivo In The Wild.

Well you lucky New England bastards!!!

First your football team is kicking all forms of ass, and now you get the first roll out of Comcast Tivo's. Yes New England is the first city to get the highly anticipated Comcast Tivo software roll out to the crappy ass DVR's that most people have had to use. It even comes with the famous peanut Tivo remote that I fell in love with. Of course this will be a premium service that Comcast provides, which means that you'll pay dearly for it. But with the choice of that sucky ass Motorola UI and the beautiful Tivo UI, you won't have a problem coming up with the extra cash.

No word on pricing or when this will be available to the rest of us.

[EngadgetHD]

Comcast TiVo Rollout Is Delayed

The engagement between Comcast and TiVo has been a slow developing relationship that hasn't shown much fruit. And now word comes from TiVo's CEO Tom Rogers that the rollout for TiVo UI on Comcast's crappy ass Motorola DVR is behind schedule.

Really?!

We could not have guessed that one since it's been almost 2 years when they announced that they would be rolling out the UI on top of their current DVR. Which essentially gives you a TiVo without having to buy a TiVo. The UI was scheduled to be out in September, but right now it is being tested by Comcast employees. Rogers says "We're waiting for word any time now that the first non-Comcast employee will begin to get the service,".

Well lets hope so!!!

[Reuters]

Whole Lotta HD Channels For Comcast

If you own an HDTV you know how frustrating it can be to only have a hand full of channels to choose from that have full HD. I was hoping someone would add some more channels to its HD lineup and apparently my wish is coming true!

The Comcast is promising up to a total of 400 HD channels by the end of this year, with more to come. By 2008, Comcast says it will offer over 800 channels of HD programming, which is absolutely nuts and awesome.

Looks like companies such as DirecTV, CableVision, and Time-Warner will have to come up with something to one up Comcast. I mean if you own a HDTV, you know damn well that non-HD programming looks like crap. I fully welcome this decision by Comcast and would even pay a premium to ensure I could access all 800 channels of HD.

Nice work, Comast. You’ve done well.

Read the entire article after the jump. [BRG]

Comcast to stream new movies to your home

Don't want to spend $12 to see Spiderman 3 in the theaters? Well Comcast wants to stream new movies to your home for a price between $29 - $50/per movie. That's right, for the price of a movie ticket and the DVD, Comcast will stream new releases to your home.

I think it's a little crazy to pony up $50 to see a new movie in your home, but for some parents, it might be their only way of seeing a new release. Still, it would never replace the 'movie experience', and paying $49 for a movie you have no idea is any good is a little risky for me.

Read the article after the jump.

Comcast shows off new cable modem

Comcast showed off their new cable modem at the Las Vegas NCTA (National Cable Television Association) Cable Show this week. And boy did they make an impression!!!!

They are using DOCSIS 3.0 technology developed by CableLabs, which lashes together four cables to give you a lickety-split download rate of 150Mb per second, a heckuva sight faster than the 2Mbps to 5 Mbps that most cable providers offer now.

Now Comcast and Time Warner can really get over on their customers by telling them that they get 100x more speed, but now you gotta pay for it!!!!

If we ever see the benefit of this technology, they'll charge us big time for it.