North American Network Operators Group Date Prev | Date Next | Date Index | Thread Index | Author Index | Historical Re: SlashDot: "Comcast Gunning for NAT Users"
David Charlap <[email protected]> writes: > It's nothing short of hubris (on the part of both Microsoft and the > ISPs) to assume that nobody ever uses a computer for more than web > surfing. When TCI cable was first rolling out high-speed Internet access in the Bay Area, they at one point without notice throttled download speeds to 128 Kb/s per customer in Fremont. Customers hit the ceiling, and the matter boiled over into a community meeting, where TCI explained with a straight face that this step was necessary because customers were "abusing" the network -- they were using it to do things like *work from home*! The collective response from attendees might be paraphrased as "well, duh!" TCI had to relent on this issue; but the episode is telling as to the mindset, I think. This also brings to mind John Perry Barlow's comment that "when these people think interactive video means putting a 'buy this' button on your remote control". Jim Shankland
|