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Observing traffic prioritization in Comcast’s network

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Re: Observing traffic prioritization in Comcast’s network

#12

Post by jlgreco »

recoiledsnake wrote: post #7
bdb wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

hey Zac. I'm the author of the post. That, or something like it, is Comcast's argument. Which makes no sense. This is a video streaming service, it's prioritized, and it's delivered just like other video streaming services are. Hopefully the data reflects this.

The key is that Comcast does not stream its conent to nomn Cable TV subscribers. If it did, it would bea violation, but this just seems like an alternative way of accessing Cable TV, which still needs to compete with Netflix/etc on price and content.

Can a comcast Cable TV subscriber stream comcast content when they are not using their comcast line? Does it matter if they can?

Re: Observing traffic prioritization in Comcast’s network

#13

Post by ars »

"Because the Xfinity traffic is mapped to a different DOCSIS service flow when prioritized, it is exempted from the downstream rate limit, so my total bandwidth usage stays consistently higher than my service tier would normally allow."

And? So what's the problem? That's sounds exactly right to me: The xfinity traffic runs over and above any bandwidth limits you have for your regular internet.

i.e. using xfinity has zero negative effect on your regular bandwidth.

Was that the point you were trying to make? That comcast is doing this right? Because if you were trying to accuse comcast of "prioritization of traffic in violation of the terms of the Comcast/NBCU Consent Decree." then your post proves exactly the opposite of that.

Re: Observing traffic prioritization in Comcast’s network

#16

Post by bdb »

ars wrote: post #13

"Because the Xfinity traffic is mapped to a different DOCSIS service flow when prioritized, it is exempted from the downstream rate limit, so my total bandwidth usage stays consistently higher than my service tier would normally allow." And? So what's the problem? That's sounds exactly right to me: The xfinity traffic runs over and above any bandwidth limits you have for your regular internet. i.e. using xfinity has…

If you read the decree:

  If Comcast offers consumers Internet Access Service under a
  package that includes caps, tiers, metering, or other
  usage-based pricing, it shall not measure, count, or 
  otherwise treat Defendants’ affiliated network traffic 
  differently from unaffiliated network traffic.  Comcast
  shall not prioritize Defendants’ Video Programming or
  other content over other Persons’ Video Programming or
  other content.
It's not about Comcast using your bandwidth, it's about them offering services which third party providers "can't," because their traffic is not treated equally.

[edit: formatting]

Re: Observing traffic prioritization in Comcast’s network

#18

Post by ars »

bdb wrote: post #16
ars wrote: post #13

"Because the Xfinity traffic is mapped to a different DOCSIS service flow when prioritized, it is exempted from the downstream rate limit, so my total bandwidth usage stays consistently higher than my service tier would normally allow." And? So what's the problem? That's sounds exactly right to me: The xfinity traffic runs over and above any bandwidth limits you have for your regular internet. i.e. using xfinity has…

If you read the decree: If Comcast offers consumers Internet Access Service under a package that includes caps, tiers, metering, or other usage-based pricing, it shall not measure, count, or otherwise treat Defendants’ affiliated network traffic differently from unaffiliated network traffic. Comcast shall not prioritize Defendants’ Video Programming or other content over other Persons’ Video Programming or other cont…

Did you know that when you watch pay per view on your TV using comcast it runs on the exact same lines as your internet?

So are you saying comcast can not provide pay per view?

They can not prioritize the internet part of their service "network traffic", but as you yourself proved this service doesn't use your internet bandwidth, even if it uses TCP/IP. It runs using its own section of the cable line. It doesn't matter that it uses DOCSIS, or TCP/IP. Comcast is well within their rights to use their cable lines for TV service.

> it's about them offering services which third party providers "can't,"

Yes, that's true - comcast offers cable TV, and other providers can't. Shouldn't you be complaining about that too?

The difference is this: I pay for internet bandwidth - comcast can not then use that bandwidth in a way that prioritizes their own services. But if comcast wants to provide me extra bandwidth to my house, and then run a service over it, that's perfectly OK.

BTW you should get kudos for including all the data in your post. I'm arguing with you using the data that you yourself gave me, which isn't a great way to argue (I should really go and get my own data). So you get credit for that, but I'm sorry, your conclusion is just incorrect.

Re: Observing traffic prioritization in Comcast’s network

#19

Post by ars »

bdb wrote: post #4
zbowling wrote: post #2

Sooo.... if comcast prioritizes Xfinity traffic at a DOCSIS level and not an IP level, it's not violating net neutrality?

hey Zac. I'm the author of the post. That, or something like it, is Comcast's argument. Which makes no sense. This is a video streaming service, it's prioritized, and it's delivered just like other video streaming services are. Hopefully the data reflects this.

> This is a video streaming service, it's prioritized, and it's delivered just like other video streaming services are.

So is pay per view. Rephrase your argument in such a way that pay per view is allowed and this isn't. You can't, because your argument is incorrect.

Pay per view is allowed, and so is this.

Re: Observing traffic prioritization in Comcast’s network

#20

Post by bdb »

ars wrote: post #18
bdb wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you read the decree: If Comcast offers consumers Internet Access Service under a package that includes caps, tiers, metering, or other usage-based pricing, it shall not measure, count, or otherwise treat Defendants’ affiliated network traffic differently from unaffiliated network traffic. Comcast shall not prioritize Defendants’ Video Programming or other content over other Persons’ Video Programming or other cont…

Did you know that when you watch pay per view on your TV using comcast it runs on the exact same lines as your internet? So are you saying comcast can not provide pay per view? They can not prioritize the internet part of their service "network traffic", but as you yourself proved this service doesn't use your internet bandwidth, even if it uses TCP/IP. It runs using its own section of the cable line. It doesn't matt…

Most of your cable service's video is actually delivered over IP, but it is on dedicated RF spectrum, even though it's on the same physical wire. If Comcast wants to deliver video to my STB over separate channels, I don't care what protocol they decide to use.

However, if they're delivering video to a generalized computing device in my home, over my home Ethernet network, over the same downstream channels as Internet traffic, and further, they're prioritizing that traffic, that's different. If there was congestion in the last mile that wasn't just me hitting my rate limit with synthetic traffic, Comcast's traffic would be prioritized, and that's not right. It would be affecting your internet bandwidth. If Comcast had provisioned dedicated RF channels for handling this traffic, just as they do for your STB, then I could at least see your point, but that's just not the case.

[edit: typo]

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