In this MyFoxBoston news segment, the anchor introduces the problem of "bandwidth hogs"—neighbors who download large files (music, movies, games) via peer‑to‑peer services such as LimeWire, BearShare, and Kazaa—causing noticeable slowdowns for other users. Internet security expert Robert Siciliano explains how these heavy downloaders consume gigabytes of data, potentially leading to penalties despite no illegal activity. Computer‑science professor Mark Crovella provides a measurement‑based perspective, noting that overall U.S. internet performance is strong and that the issue is not network capacity but the cost structure for ISPs, which pay for traffic they forward. The segment details recent ISP actions: Comcast’s 250 GB monthly data cap with possible service cancellation, and AT&T’s testing of usage‑based billing at $1 per extra gigabyte. Both providers are considering tiered pricing similar to mobile plans, prompting debate over fairness and net neutrality. The report concludes by urging heavy users to moderate their downloading habits and invites viewers to share their experiences.
Chapters
You click, you surf, you wait. If you've ever found that your internet doesn't seem to be as fast as it usually is, there may be a reason for that. Some say the huge surge in downloading games, movies, and other large files is why. Tonight we take a look at bandwidth hogs and why they may someday end up costing you more for your internet service. We head to the internet for just about everything.
Looking up the news, different things. A little shopping. I use Facebook to communicate with my friends. Music, games, anything.
But do you ever notice that sometimes the web seems to be creeping along at a snail's pace?
After 6 o'clock, I notice it can be pretty slow at times. Sometimes on the weekends.
Well, the reason for the slowdown might mean that you have a bandwidth hog in your neighborhood.
I want it all, and I want it now.
Bandwidth hogs?
I've never even heard of it. You may never have heard of them, but at one time or another, your internet speed may have been affected because of one.
That's when people will download music and movies, really large files, gigabytes of files, at the same time, and they are slowing down the internet for everybody in the neighborhood.
Robert Siciliano is an internet security expert. He says the explosion of file-sharing sites like LimeWire, BearShare, and Kazaa, which let you download music, games, DVD-quality movies, and other large files, have made downloading more popular, helping to bog down the bandwidth available for the rest of us.
There's nothing illegal about being a bandwidth hog, but ultimately you can be penalized for doing it.
Just give it! What I know is mine!
Putting limits on bandwidth is a trend it seems all internet service providers are at least taking a look at. Last month Comcast announced a 250 gigabyte limit each month for customers. If you go over after receiving warnings, your service could be canceled. But to reach that limit, you'd have to send 50 million plain text emails, download approximately 62,500 songs, 125 standard definition movies, or upload 25,000 high-res photos. AT&T, the country's largest internet service provider, recently said it would start testing limits on bandwidth use for its customers as well. And customers who exceed the limit may end up paying $1 per extra gigabyte used.
This is a new thrust by these providers that's really— it's worth debating and stepping carefully into this— into the ground.
Putting limits on what people can do online, since the internet isn't owned by anyone, is seen as a problem for some. Mark Crovella is a professor of computer science at Boston University who has studied internet measurement for 10 years.
All the measurements show that the internet performance in the U.S. on the whole is extremely good, and it's been getting better year after year after year.
He believes internet traffic isn't the issue with bandwidth hogs. It's the cost.
Providers have to pay based on the amount of traffic that they send into the rest of the network. Their costs depend on how much traffic gets sent. So they have an incentive to throttle the folks who are, as I said, using a disproportionately large share.
Those considered to be using more than their share is small, some say less than 5% of internet users. But some internet service providers are exploring their options with tiered pricing for internet service. Similar to a cell phone plan, the more you use, the more you pay, as a way to fight back against the hogs.
I want it all. I want it all.
Basically, when you're downloading stuff, it slows down.
So for all you hogs out there, you may want to wean yourself some from your web downloading habits.
If there are more and more bandwidth hogs out there, then eventually we're going to get billed for what they do.
I want it! I want it!
And locally, Comcast tells us they continually review a number of pricing options, including consumption billing, but have no immediate plans to change the way they charge customers. And do you know a bandwidth hog? Tell us about it. myfoxboston.com and click on Special Reports.
