Digital Home Thoughts - News & Reviews for the Digital Home

We've talked a great deal about the unfolding data usage caps from wired ISPs over the past year here on Digital Home Thoughts, so I thought I might be interesting to share my data usage as measured by my ISP here in Western Canada, Shaw Communications. Here's my usage from December 2010 through until July 2011:

I'd guess that an average person would consume far less bandwidth, but also be the reverse of my pattern; they'd have more download usage and less upload usage. Why do I use up so much upstream bandwidth? No, it's not torrents - I've been slowly but surely adding data via Crashplan for my off-site backup (I'm up to 620 GB or so now) and last week I uploaded my 100 GB music collection to Amazon's Cloud Drive service. Now that I've uploaded pretty much all my data to Crashplan, and all my music is in the cloud, I should be using less upstream data.

What does your data usage look like? Are you bumping up against your cap (if you have one), or are you comfortably within it?

"Internet data caps are becoming a reality and can seriously suck. If you're stuck with the limitation, the best thing you can do is monitor your usage to avoid overage charges or even getting cut off entirely. Here are a few options to help you keep track."

This handy article by Lifehacker provides suggestions for how you can monitor your Internet data usage. This is becoming more and more of an important topic as data usage caps are being seen more frequently. The article provides a router based technique (you will need to determine if your router is supported), as well as a native apps for Mac, Windows and Unix platforms. Comcast customers can also get this information through the Customer Account Center. The Read link will direct you to the source files and information.

"Today I came home to find my 15 MB down/3 MB up Comcast broadband service had been shut off due to exceeding their 250 GB/month data cap policy. This had happened the month before, and I called and had a polite but irritated conversation with Comcast's "Customer Security" department (since the regular customer service folks could not help.) According to them I had exceeded their 250 GB monthly cap, and they asked how that might have happened."

Whoa boy. I read this story with a grimace on my face. On the one hand, you have Comcast's completely over-the-top reaction to a customer blowing his data usage cap two months in a row: total account termination. That's just insane. That's the sort of extreme measure you take if your customer was doing something illegal or unethical. Going over a data usage cap? Bill the customer extra, but don't terminate his account. Read more...

"Bandwidth caps are all the rage these days, in North America and around the world. We're talking about the notorious ceilings on how much broadband data you can use before your ISP starts charging you extra, or slowing down your connection, or shaping your traffic use (eg, blocking your access to certain applications)."

So your ISP has told you that you are now on the meter. No more all-you-can-eat buffet for you! Now that the unlimited ride is over, you have to wonder just how much do you use. Lucky for you, your ISP has graciously decided to provide a website that allows you to track your usage. For those of you networking geeks out there, be aware that what your router tracks, and what your ISP tracks may not always match exactly and you can only hope their tool is reasonably accurate. The unfortunately truth is that with caps becoming more commonplace, as tech of your household, you now have one more duty placed upon your shoulders, especially if your data cap is low, or your overage fees are high, or both! Welcome to the NEW Internet!

"Now, customers who have AT&T's DSL service will be capped at 150 GB of data per month. Those using the less traditional U-Verse service will get a 250 GB monthly limit. For all customers, going beyond the limit during any month will result in a $10 charge for every additional 50 GB."

Internet providers in North America (and a few other lucky countries) seem intent on implementing data caps for their broadband options. AT&T is the latest to announce their intentions with caps for both their wireless and broadband connections. I have to say that I am amazed at the limits imposed. Based on my experience here in Canada, AT&T is somehow able to offer a base data cap for DSL that is six times what Bell Canada is suggesting with Usage Based Billing.

Fact is that the Internet usage patterns are changing for consumers, and the traditional models may no longer be suitable for most areas. While Usage Based Billing does have its benefits, there are other options that could also be beneficial. My greatest concern is cost. With the increasing importance of the Internet as a communications tool, it is nearly at the point where it could be considered a utility. It may be time that municipalities, or governments in general consider how to manage the "last mile" in order to guarantee equitible access for all.