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Issue date: 9/12/08 Section: Views

So it was announced a couple of days ago that the Internet provider Comcast would be implementing bandwidth caps on its subscribers. This means that you can only use a certain "amount" of the Internet.

Allow me to explain. Whenever you use the Internet for anything, whether it is on your computer or Xbox, you use what is called bandwidth. Bandwidth can be described simply as "Internet Landscape." The more bandwidth you have, the more you are able to explore.

Until recently, the average Internet user used very little bandwidth (and that still remains for the majority of users) and thus, Internet providers didn't need to worry.

But now, it's rare to see a family with just one Internet device, and in turn, these families are using more "landscape."

Well, it's the Internet providers who give us this landscape and if we keep using a lot of it, it will become a loss in the long run for these companies. On Oct. 1, Comcast will implement a restriction of 250 gigs of bandwidth per month for its users. But, like I said before, the average Internet user consumes very little bandwidth (roughly 1/100 of this limit) and should not worry about this. But for people who use the Internet as their broadcasting medium, it could become a problem.

So how do you know if you are using too much of this bandwidth? Is there some way to measure your consumption? There is, but Comcast is not going to provide it to you. In my opinion, this is grounds for a lawsuit. You can't restrict something and not provide a way of monitoring the consumption of it. Sure, you can use your router to measure your consumption, but this requires downloading and installing an application to do such a thing. One could compare this to driving your car without a gas gauge. You can do it, but you will have to constantly watch how many miles you've driven.

I have a hypothesis on why Comcast won't help you.

Comcast wants to create a little bit of fear, a little bit of doubt so you will force yourself not to use the Internet so much. And their way of punishing their users shows this. Your first offense will result in a warning, but do it again and you will be banned for one year. So how could the average user consume 250 gigs of bandwidth per month? Well, it would be almost impossible. Even if you were watching TV for eight hours a day for 30 days, you wouldn't even come close to the limit. Even if it was HD! But here is the thing - right now we don't use much bandwidth, but what about three years from now when nearly all of our media will be downloaded? That's when people will start to break that limit.

I say no bandwidth caps. The Internet providers should have us pay for speed and unlimited access, because if we do have to pay for bandwidth, it will create a choke hold on what we can view.

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