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Comment by davidcollantes | Hacker News Reader

"While we believe that 300 GB is more than enough to meet the Internet usage needs of most customers, Comcast will automatically add blocks of 50 GB to your account for an additional $10, should you exceed the 300 GB included in your plan in a month."

That made my jaw drop. Netflix usage eats that in no time. Online gaming eats that in no time. Actually, web browsing for a family of 4 (which includes Youtube, etc.) eats that in no time. Today's "regular" Internet usage eats that in no time.

Which dinosaur thought that 300 GB was "more than enough?"

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I'm no Comcast defender (more clearly put: they are only below AT&T in terms of companies that I dislike), but I wouldn't say Netflix and online gaming eat up 300GB of data in "no time". I do both of those things regularly, and I stream around five HD basketball games per week, and I've only gone over 300GB once in twelve months. My average is around 220GB, which I'm on track for again this month so far. I rarely use torrents though, which I imagine would put a bigger squeeze on me.

That said, I'm looking forward to switching to Gigabit Seattle the moment I have the chance.

The dinasour that figured out the maximum amount they could get away with charging.

I would say that I am probably about average in my consumption, and according to my router last month i did 217GB down and 22GB up. So I would say they are probably about right, not that I agree with what they are doing. My primary download usage is netflix / hulu plus, and primary upload usage is backblaze.

I second this.

No Netflix , Amazon , Roku or any set top box based streaming of any other kind either.

No gaming either.

This is my usage for the past three months:

http://i.imgur.com/ZDNGYVI.jpg

If you're not using any video streaming sites, what are you using that uses up to 250GB a month?

IP Telephony is the only one I can think of.

Maybe an obvious question, but is your wi-fi secured?

You appear to have fallen short of 300GB all three months?

Don't you think that's awfully close to 300GB without ANY STREAMING or GAMING !?!?!

IP Telephony bitrates are low, 64Kbps at most. Even if you were on 24/7 with a bitrate like that going both in and out at all times, it would still add up to only about 40GB.

How about backing up to online storage? Comcast's total should include uploads and downloads.

Alternate explanations: the meter is wrong, someone else is using your network, you're omitting a video porn addiction.

Not saying that it's a good decision, but I imagine Comcast has data on the Internet usage of millions of customers.

Yes, and they're also a corporation seeking profits, not a benevolent gift-giver who wants you to get the most fair rate possible. They own not only an ISP, but a cable company that they want you to subscribe to, and overage charges are pure profit.

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