Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Cox Communications and "Congestion Management"

Posted by timothy on from the why-isn't-everything-unlimited-and-free? dept.

imamac writes "It appears Cox Communications is the next in line for throttling internet traffic. But it's not throttling of course; Cox's euphemism is 'congestion management.' From Cox's explanation: 'In February, Cox will begin testing a new method of managing traffic on our high-speed Internet network in our Kansas and Arkansas markets. During the occasional times the network is congested, this new technology automatically ensures that all time-sensitive Internet traffic — such as web pages, voice calls, streaming videos and gaming — moves without delay. Less time-sensitive traffic, such as file uploads, peer-to-peer and Usenet newsgroups, may be delayed momentarily...' Sounds like throttling to me."

3 of 282 comments (clear)

  1. Well that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...sucks Cox!

  2. First Post! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Unless they've decide to throttle /. traffic too

  3. Choice by jwietelmann · · Score: 5, Funny

    Your market has choice? Because my market has just Cox and AT&T/BellSouth. BellSouth offers underpowered, overpriced DSL service if you sign up for a one-year contract for an overpriced local phone line. As for Cox, this is a conversation I had with their salesperson:

    HER: There is an installation fee of $80.
    ME: What's to install? Cable already comes to the apartment.
    HER: You're already a subscriber?
    ME: No, your people just didn't bother to shut it off after the previous tenant moved out.
    HER: Oh, well you're a new customer, so there's an installation fee.
    ME: So what is the service you perform in exchange for that $80? One of your technicians flicks a switch off and then flicks it back on again, thereby "installing" my cable?
    HER: (blank stare) ... There's an $80 installation fee for new customers.
    ME: (blank stare)