Many residential ISP's are implementing usage caps to protect their customer base from individual users who unduly burden the backbone networks with disproportionate amounts of data traffic and as a result degrade the overall performance of the network for everyone. 250GB is a LOT of information for traditional residential user connection -- particular since you are explicitly prohibited from running any kind of "server" based connection.
With that said, I am not aware of any communicated limit from Verizon although atypical usage is certain to gather someone's attention, I suspect. To which I refer you to the Terms of Service agreement:
Restrictions on Use. The Service is a consumer grade service and is not designed for or intended to be used for any commercial purpose. You may not resell the Service, use it for high volume purposes, or engage in similar activities that constitute such use (commercial or non-commercial). If you subscribe to a Broadband Service, you may connect multiple computers/devices within a single home to your modem and/or router to access the Service, but only through a single Verizon-issued IP address. You also may not exceed the bandwidth usage limitations that Verizon may establish from time to time for the Service, or use the Service to host any type of server. Violation of this section may result in bandwidth restrictions on your Service or suspension or termination of your Service.
In short, if they see a problem, they can enact a bandwidth usage limitation and can take the remedies outlined therein. YMMV.
@lasagna wrote: You also may not exceed the bandwidth usage limitations that Verizon may establish from time to time for the Service, or use the Service to host any type of server.
@lasagna wrote:
You also may not exceed the bandwidth usage limitations that Verizon may establish from time to time for the Service, or use the Service to host any type of server.
Thank you. The quoted portion of the Restrictions on Use is what piqued my interest. Basically, limitations are implicitly applied and really is dependent on Verizon's discretion. Whereas Comcast explicitly states a limit. Verizon simply leaves the window open for interpretation. Am I correct?
Yes, I understand 250GBs is [relatively] a lot of data; however, let me elaborate on our configuration. We have five computers in the home - three desktops and two laptops. One of the three desktop computers houses all of our music, movies, shows, videos, games, etc...call it a psuedo file server. In addition, we have three televisions. Each of the televisions has a D-Link Wireless Media Player connected to it. This allows each television to stream data from the main computer. In order to get the data from the computer to the television, all data has to pass through the router. This is the bulk of our data usage. Given that the average movie file is about 1.5GBs and that the average one hour television show is 350MBs, one can see how quickly the data usage can add up. In addition, music is streamed from this computer on a regular basis. Granted, this doesn't include the downloading that I do but that is comparable with others in my area.
I pay $53+tax per month for the highest tier Comcast has to over. The fact that I cannot utilize this network in the fashion that best suits my family's needs is what will drive us away from them. I may have to contact Verizon directly to get the definitive answer that I need; however, if there is truly no cap, they have my business. If there is a cap, my alternative is Clear. Network speeds will not be nearly as good as what I have now but the tradeoff is well worth it. Thanks.
Unless you have something setup wrong, data which moves within the LAN (between two systems -- such as from a server in your home to an endpoint in the home) does NOT impact any quota or bandwidth counts for the "Internet" portion of your connection. This is local data -- which while it my move thru the switch ports of the router -- is not subject to any quota.
Is it possible that the D-Link wireless media player may be accessing internet content. I know a few HD movies say from Netflix would quickly eat up your limit. I think streaming video over the net is what the cable company it trying to stop. That along with peer to peer. Do you do any Peer to peer or gaming?
I would not put up with CAPs and would choke it VZ started that junk. No plans to do so that I know of. Some of Verizon's services are IP based and it would make no sense. Verizon is not having the same bottle neck issues that is happening with cable. I have not seen it.
There was an interview with one of the Verizon big wigs about 2-3 months ago. He was asked specifically about caps. This was in wake of Comcast announcing that they were placing caps on their service. The Verizon exec was quoted as saying that Verizon had no plans on placing any type of cap on the service. At this time. He did say that Verizon would keep that as an option as there is no knowing what the future would bring, but currently heavy users do not affect the Verizon network as they do the cable providers. So right now, there is no cap, but that could change.
