Bandwidth Usage Policy

1
Bandwidth Usage Policy

• Nipunn Koorapati
• Kahei Chan
• Kevin Williams
• Alex Soto

2
Intro

• Many internet providers set policies to limit
  bandwidth usage
• Bandwidth is the capacity to transfer data over a
  network
• Too much bandwidth usage slows down entire
  network
• Policy forces users to share bandwidth
• Ex. Universities, Internet service providers

3
CMUs Bandwidth Policy

• Wired 10Gigabytes / 5days (2gig/day)
• Wireless 3.75Gigabytes / 5days (750meg/day)
• One gigabyte is roughly equal to 17 hours of MP3.
  One gigabyte is roughly equivalent to 12 hours of
  Flash Video.
• Activities that may use significant bandwidth
• Reinstalling an operating system
• Performing Windows Update or Apple Software
  Updates
• Downloading and installing applications
• Performing system backups
• Transferring large files (images, video, music,
  databases) to other systems

4
CMUs Consequences

• Initial violation of policy
• Warning notification
• Usage is watched daily
• Subsequent violations
• Further warnings
• Eventual network access may be revoked for up to
  45 days

5
Comcasts Bandwidth Policy

• Excessive use means data usage that is not
  characteristic of a typical residential user
  of the service as determined by Comcast.  Based
  on Comcast's current policies, here are a few
  examples of activities any one of which
  represents excessive use in one month
• Sending 20,000 high-resolution photos,
• Sending 40 million emails
• Downloading 50,000 songs or
• Viewing 8,000 movie trailers

6
Comcasts Consequences

• Comcast will send a warning if it deems your
  usage to be atypicial

7
Benefits

• - Limiting bandwidth increases the speed
• Conserves Net Neutrality user controls how much
  they download (not isp)
• May evolve into a pay per bit system (saving
  money for casual users)

8
Criticisms

• Restricts use of the internet users are no
  longer able to do whatever they wish once
  connected
• If a pay per bit system is used, will increase
  the cost to connect

9
Opinion

• Bandwidth usage policies are an effective way to
  share bandwidth among users.
• Bandwidth policy should allow for occasional
  spikes of file usage.
• Should be clear where the limitations are
• CMUs policy is restrictive because it does not
  allow a single large download. 60 gigs/month
  would be better.
• Comcasts policy does not clearly define
  limitations