No need for speed: Cable industry opposes 25Mbps broadband definition

Normal people don't need 25Mbps down or 3Mbps up, cable lobby says.

Read the whole story

 

[TheEphemeralElectron]

One youtube video stream in HD runs at 6Mbps or so, 4 people (a typical "nuclear" family) would require 4 times that amount. How could 25Mbps not be the minimum definition? Amazing.

Factor in future (present) technologies like telepresence for education, medicine, work, or remote game streaming from cloud servers, or in fact cloud storage of any sort for domestic use, and it becomes really anemic.

Heck, my workplace has 50/5 and we could barely host 10 people in a Google Hangout with nothing else really going on and higher speeds are either not available or incredibly expensive for what should be effectively a required utility.

 

[Drakkenmensch]

If we don't need this much speed, why do they keep upselling us on all those services that require it to function?

 

[qasimq]

So the paid clowns for the Cable companies disagree with instituting more competition and better service.
What a shock.

I think government subsidies should be tied to certain benchmarks that should be reviewed every few years.

 

[THC_MOLECULE]

SO sick of cable companies and all their bullshit lies

 

[Viking ZX]

Netflix, for instance, bases its call for a 25Mbps download threshold on what it believes consumers need for streaming 4K and ultra-HD video content—despite the fact that only a tiny fraction of consumers use their broadband connections in this manner,

Well duh, of course. People who don't have access to 25 Mbps internet don't normally make use of 25 Mbps internet. Did they factor this into their numbers?

Of course not.

 

[Drakkenmensch]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":2k75dep3]One youtube video stream in HD runs at 6Mbps or so, 4 people (a typical "nuclear" family) would require 4 times that amount. How could 25Mbps not be the minimum definition? Amazing.

According to cable companies, this is all the broadband you should need:

 

[macemoneta]

"Notably, no party provides any justification for adopting an upload speed benchmark of 3Mbps"

Someone doesn't upload Youtube videos, or try to use that 1TB of Google Drive storage for anything. The minimum today should be 25/25 - with symmetrical bandwidth being a mandatory part of the definition.

 

[otomo_1001]

Ok cable lobby shills, I'll give you a reason for at least 3Mbps (more is better though).

Online backup.

Weasel your bitch asses out of explaining why it should take me a year to backup a terabyte of data because you're unable to invest money into your cash cow.

 

[Fukengruven]

Viking ZX[/url]":3u3dm4mk]

Netflix, for instance, bases its call for a 25Mbps download threshold on what it believes consumers need for streaming 4K and ultra-HD video content—despite the fact that only a tiny fraction of consumers use their broadband connections in this manner,

Well duh, of course. People who don't have access to 25 Mbps internet don't normally make use of 25 Mbps internet. Did they factor this into their numbers?

Of course not.

Not to mention that 4K is relatively new and expensive. As prices come down demand for bandwidth will increase.

 

[BBnet3000]

Am I the only person on here who is only paying for 15/2?

 

[TheEphemeralElectron]

Drakkenmensch[/url]":1jbikde5]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":1jbikde5]One youtube video stream in HD runs at 6Mbps or so, 4 people (a typical "nuclear" family) would require 4 times that amount. How could 25Mbps not be the minimum definition? Amazing.

According to cable companies, this is all the broadband you should need:

And that the represented technology should cost you $50 a month, or else their innovative use of string would not be worth it.

 

[ethd]

Viking ZX[/url]":28fumf2a]

Netflix, for instance, bases its call for a 25Mbps download threshold on what it believes consumers need for streaming 4K and ultra-HD video content—despite the fact that only a tiny fraction of consumers use their broadband connections in this manner,

Well duh, of course. People who don't have access to 25 Mbps internet don't normally make use of 25 Mbps internet. Did they factor this into their numbers?

Of course not.

In the early 2000's people didn't watch much video in 1080p either.
I swear, this mentality by the cable companies is what's going to restrict innovation.

 

[ethd]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":1qf3oqho]

Drakkenmensch[/url]":1qf3oqho]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":1qf3oqho]One youtube video stream in HD runs at 6Mbps or so, 4 people (a typical "nuclear" family) would require 4 times that amount. How could 25Mbps not be the minimum definition? Amazing.

According to cable companies, this is all the broadband you should need:

And that the represented technology should cost you $50 a month, or else their innovative use of string would not be worth it.

Don't forget the overage fees. I don't even know how they would make that work, but I have faith that the cable companies will do everything in their power to make overage fees happen.

 

[TheEphemeralElectron]

BBnet3000[/url]":2o53n1ic]Am I the only person on here who is only paying for 15/2?

I would have been, but TimeWarner recently bumped up all of their speeds. So I believe my 15/3 (or whatever it was) went to 50/5 (I believe)

 

[biffbobfred]

Drakkenmensch[/url]":1bujdxyr]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":1bujdxyr]One youtube video stream in HD runs at 6Mbps or so, 4 people (a typical "nuclear" family) would require 4 times that amount. How could 25Mbps not be the minimum definition? Amazing.

According to cable companies, this is all the broadband you should need:

I think Comcast is trying to upsell me to Cans on String Blast(TM)

 

[Drakkenmensch]

ethd[/url]":r7bkiybm]

Viking ZX[/url]":r7bkiybm]

Netflix, for instance, bases its call for a 25Mbps download threshold on what it believes consumers need for streaming 4K and ultra-HD video content—despite the fact that only a tiny fraction of consumers use their broadband connections in this manner,

Well duh, of course. People who don't have access to 25 Mbps internet don't normally make use of 25 Mbps internet. Did they factor this into their numbers?

Of course not.

In the early 2000's people didn't watch much video in 1080p either.
I swear, this mentality by the cable companies is what's going to restrict innovation.

Instead of offering what the people want they keep telling us that they don't need more than what they already get, regardless that it's not enough even now.

"You can have any car color you want, as long as it's black." - Henry Ford

 

[Viking ZX]

ethd[/url]":3ez02rnh]

Viking ZX[/url]":3ez02rnh]

Netflix, for instance, bases its call for a 25Mbps download threshold on what it believes consumers need for streaming 4K and ultra-HD video content—despite the fact that only a tiny fraction of consumers use their broadband connections in this manner,

Well duh, of course. People who don't have access to 25 Mbps internet don't normally make use of 25 Mbps internet. Did they factor this into their numbers?

Of course not.

In the early 2000's people didn't watch much video in 1080p either.
I swear, this mentality by the cable companies is what's going to restrict innovation.

Going to restrict innovation?

 

[donelson]

The FCC proposes this, in reality: to cripple the ability of broadband companies to LIE to the public.

 

[OnThePlusSide]

"Meanwhile, Public Knowledge asserts in conclusory fashion that an 'average' US household constantly streams at least three high-definition movies simultaneously while also running various 'online backup services and other applications'—without providing any evidence indicating that such usage is at all 'average.'"

Wow! Constantly streams at least three hi-def movies simultaneously?

I will say as a rural DSL user there's no way we're going to even attempt to stream three videos at once. We can do two if they're from NetFlix because NetFlix checks our speed and makes adjustments but other sources like TV network websites don't seem to do that and if one person is trying to download something at the same time the video stream doesn't work.

I check occasionally at speedtest.net and we do well to have 3-4 Mbps (usually it's between 2 and 3) download speed and rarely have over .5 Mbps upload speed. If we had better speed we would use it.

 

[Sixclaws]

Drakkenmensch[/url]":yjozgs0v]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":yjozgs0v]One youtube video stream in HD runs at 6Mbps or so, 4 people (a typical "nuclear" family) would require 4 times that amount. How could 25Mbps not be the minimum definition? Amazing.

According to cable companies, this is all the broadband you should need:

And this is how much you have to pay:

And that's with a data cap.

 

[SyntheticKnowledge]

The answer, at least when it comes to cable companies, is always "Fuck You!"

See this helpful guide to cable companies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ilMx7k7mso

 

[S8ER01Z]

BBnet3000[/url]":ry7szvsi]Am I the only person on here who is only paying for 15/2?

I'm at 105/20 but only because when I was paying for 25/2 the bandwidth caps kept pushing my bill higher and higher every month. Honestly I felt 25/2 was fast enough to handle my day to day usage but they don't want me to pay for that service, they want more.

 

[AM16]

Let me think.. Household of 4, iCloud backup of devices 64GB compressed to about 24 GB, Skype with family members, and Netflix/YouTube at once. I'd say these people are full of shit.

 

[Drakkenmensch]

SyntheticKnowledge[/url]":3cbs2jif]The answer, at least when it comes to cable companies, is always "Fuck You!"

See this helpful guide to cable companies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ilMx7k7mso

Also this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0sAVtOt2wA

 

[qasimq]

Drakkenmensch[/url]":3aqjq3l0]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":3aqjq3l0]One youtube video stream in HD runs at 6Mbps or so, 4 people (a typical "nuclear" family) would require 4 times that amount. How could 25Mbps not be the minimum definition? Amazing.

According to cable companies, this is all the broadband you should need:

As long as they can charge you for:
a. the number of times you can pick up the can and talk into it
b. The length of the chord
c. The number of people using the cans
d. the number of people looking at the can
etc etc

 

[Stickmansam]

Running 25/5 and with 3 people online at once, it actually does bottleneck sometimes though rarely.

I guess 15/5 would be fine but that leaves no room to account for growth in usage and would get outdated as a standard quickly

I used to have 15/2 which was doable but noticeable lag at times, switched to 6/1 which was terrible (someone playing YouTube would cause my game to lag). Finally moved to 25/5 which is much better.

I would push for 2:1 ratio as well though since my online backup takes too long for my liking. Males ot ewsier to stream/video chat as well. Symmetrical is probably too much to ask for at realistic prices.

What's also important is that bandwidth caps either grow or are eliminated as well and prices go down

 

[Fukengruven]

ethd[/url]":b7rbej1h]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":b7rbej1h]

Drakkenmensch[/url]":b7rbej1h]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":b7rbej1h]One youtube video stream in HD runs at 6Mbps or so, 4 people (a typical "nuclear" family) would require 4 times that amount. How could 25Mbps not be the minimum definition? Amazing.

According to cable companies, this is all the broadband you should need:

And that the represented technology should cost you $50 a month, or else their innovative use of string would not be worth it.

Don't forget the overage fees. I don't even know how they would make that work, but I have faith that the cable companies will do everything in their power to make overage fees happen.

Comcast has been experimenting with overage fees for a while now.

 

[akterdekk]

The infuriating part is not just the low speed/high cost, but that the providers continue to get away with doing to us what Super Creepy Rob Lowe appears to be doing with his other hand. If there was REAL competition, or REAL regulation they would be out of business faster than you can say "Black Friday".

 

[Hinton]

BBnet3000[/url]":3fik6loi]Am I the only person on here who is only paying for 15/2?

Nope. I am as well.

Its perfectly fine for one person, but no more than that.

 

[Redwizard000]

Gee I sure love it when an oppressive anti-consumer corporation tells me (a consumer) what I need and what I don't need!

I wonder why cable companies frequently rank at the bottom of the highest rated company lists...

I can think of a lot of reasons why someone would need or want a 25mbps connection. Especially in the near future when 4k replaces HD and streaming movies gets even bigger. Netflix recommends a 25mb connection to stream Ultra HD. Imagine a family of 3 all trying to stream an Ultra HD movie at the same time each on a different device.

 

[Chmilz]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":31nr4csp]

Drakkenmensch[/url]":31nr4csp]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":31nr4csp]One youtube video stream in HD runs at 6Mbps or so, 4 people (a typical "nuclear" family) would require 4 times that amount. How could 25Mbps not be the minimum definition? Amazing.

According to cable companies, this is all the broadband you should need:

And that the represented technology should cost you $50 a month, or else their innovative use of string would not be worth it.

Cans and string are rented out for $5/month, each. You know, proprietary and whatnot.*

*78% of can capacity may be reserved to offer side-canning to other Cancast subsribers in your area.

 

[Redwizard000]

qasimq[/url]":1r6wviur]

Drakkenmensch[/url]":1r6wviur]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":1r6wviur]One youtube video stream in HD runs at 6Mbps or so, 4 people (a typical "nuclear" family) would require 4 times that amount. How could 25Mbps not be the minimum definition? Amazing.

According to cable companies, this is all the broadband you should need:

As long as they can charge you for:
a. the number of times you can pick up the can and talk into it
b. The length of the chord
c. The number of people using the cans
d. the number of people looking at the can
etc etc

Don't forget a $5-$10 per month rental fee for each can

 

[fenris_uy]

TheEphemeralElectron[/url]":5y8najsa]One youtube video stream in HD runs at 6Mbps or so, 4 people (a typical "nuclear" family) would require 4 times that amount. How could 25Mbps not be the minimum definition? Amazing.

You see, if everybody in the house is watching YouTube, then none of the members of the house is watching TV. And if that's the case, then why would you keep paying to have cable TV in your home?

 

[Akemi]

Netflix, for instance, bases its call for a 25Mbps download threshold on what it believes consumers need for streaming 4K and ultra-HD video content—despite the fact that only a tiny fraction of consumers use their broadband connections in this manner

What duplicitous cunts. The same people that complained about Netflix consuming an inordinate amount of bandwidth now state that Netflix and HD streams are a niche.


According to a new report from Sandvine, a company that builds equipment for consumer internet service providers, Netflix has topped 35% of overall US internet traffic.

The streaming service now reportedly uses 34.89 percent of downstream and 9.4 percent of upstream bandwidth during peak periods on US fixed lines. Sandvine’s report suggests that Netflix is using a whopping 20% more bandwidth than the nearest downstream competitor, YouTube.

http://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/11/21/n ... et-traffic

 

[Just Joe]

"Netflix, for instance, bases its call for a 25Mbps download threshold on what it believes consumers need for streaming 4K and ultra-HD video content—despite the fact that only a tiny fraction of consumers use their broadband connections in this manner...

A tiny fraction RIGHT NOW. Not a tiny fraction, say, five or even two years from now.

Netflix is looking to the future with those speeds, whereas the cable companies are looking at the past and attempting to hang onto it.

 

[wastrel]

The real problem is that ISP speeds are not "at least" but only "up to", and if all you're able to get is at least even 10% of their "up to" speeds, then they feel they've satisfied their obligations to you as a customer (and if you can't even get that 10%, then there must be something wrong with you or your hardware or your devices).

 

[anonArs]

It's amazing how easily internet providers forget that they are supposed to provide minimal service for maximum cost.


Crap, sorry! I meant to say provide reasonably fast, usable internet speeds to actually deliver internet content.


If a tech person like myself can easily mix up the two I guess I can understand how these companies always do too...

 

[iPirateEverything]

Surprised they didnt say how Europe is jealous of the speeds US customers get.

Perhaps they were scared that someone would show them this link:
http://www.bredbandsbolaget.se/bredband ... heter.html

250MBPS for less than $50 (doing an exchange rate checkup online, might be 2% up or down) and thats not the fastest out there either... I think that record is held in Asia by Japan (?)

Edit:
Damn typos wlil be teh daeth of me!

 

[ChickenHawk]

ethd[/url]":2ytqhx1g]

Viking ZX[/url]":2ytqhx1g]

Netflix, for instance, bases its call for a 25Mbps download threshold on what it believes consumers need for streaming 4K and ultra-HD video content—despite the fact that only a tiny fraction of consumers use their broadband connections in this manner,

Well duh, of course. People who don't have access to 25 Mbps internet don't normally make use of 25 Mbps internet. Did they factor this into their numbers?

Of course not.

In the early 2000's people didn't watch much video in 1080p either.
I swear, this mentality by the cable companies is what's going to restrict innovation.

What are you talking about? The nice man from the Cable Company tells me the US Cable Industry is the most innovative and competitive in the world, and he wouldn't lie to me, would he?