DSL usage: when will they care?
December 5, 2006 5:46 AM Subscribe
Do I need to worry about my DSL provider pulling the plug on me for bandwidth consumption?
During the past month I've downloaded about 80 GB of DVD content from Digital Archive Project using the eDonkey p2p client. Do I need to be at all concerned about my DSL provider turning off service because of bandwidth usage? Or would they do something tamer like throttle my bandwidth or call to warn me? Or would they not even really care?
I know it's a what-if scenario but I'm more curious what is the norm for heavy Internet users on DSL. Is my usage having an impact on neighbors, or am I just making a small dent at the telco's central office?
FWIW I'm in the U.S. on DSL and my provider is Embarq (used to be Sprint/Sprintlink). I'm actually in a very small city away from a metro area, so I can see Embarq having some concern over how much usage there is on those pipes.
During the past month I've downloaded about 80 GB of DVD content from Digital Archive Project using the eDonkey p2p client. Do I need to be at all concerned about my DSL provider turning off service because of bandwidth usage? Or would they do something tamer like throttle my bandwidth or call to warn me? Or would they not even really care?
I know it's a what-if scenario but I'm more curious what is the norm for heavy Internet users on DSL. Is my usage having an impact on neighbors, or am I just making a small dent at the telco's central office?
FWIW I'm in the U.S. on DSL and my provider is Embarq (used to be Sprint/Sprintlink). I'm actually in a very small city away from a metro area, so I can see Embarq having some concern over how much usage there is on those pipes.
As others have said, the short answer is "it depends on your ISP." Comcast, for example, has definitely been known to smack their users down for excessive consumption (even those users who signed up for supposedly "unlimited" usage plans). Other ISPs, such as Speakeasy,* are far more lenient/forgiving.
So call your ISP and ask. If they won't tell you (and they might not), check out Broadband Reports* to find other Embarq users in your area who might be able to help you figure it out.
*IANAS (I am not a shill.)
posted by somanyamys at 7:01 AM on December 5, 2006
So call your ISP and ask. If they won't tell you (and they might not), check out Broadband Reports* to find other Embarq users in your area who might be able to help you figure it out.
*IANAS (I am not a shill.)
posted by somanyamys at 7:01 AM on December 5, 2006
I'm surprised Comcast didn't try to upgrade odinsdream's friend to Comcast Workplace, their SOHO service. It's double the price but the TOS are much more generous, and it's competitively priced with Speakeasy's 6/768 service.
posted by kindall at 9:46 AM on December 5, 2006
posted by kindall at 9:46 AM on December 5, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
As far as I know they didn't throttle his connection.
posted by Glow Bucket at 6:30 AM on December 5, 2006