Critics question Comcast broadband caps

reduce congestion. The FCC ruled that Comcast was violating so-called net neutrality principles by targeting a certain kind of Internet traffic.

"It remains unclear how the cap announced today helps solve Comcast's supposed congestion problems," said S. Derek Turner, research director of Free Press, another digital rights group critical of Comcast's past network management. "Though the proposed cap is relatively high, it will increasingly ensnare more users as technology continues its natural progression."

Turner applauded Comcast for being open about its caps. Well-disclosed caps are a better short-term solution than "Comcast's current practice of illegally blocking Internet traffic," he said.

Comcast will review the broadband caps periodically and look at whether they need to be increased, Douglas said.

Some Internet posters also questioned if the bandwidth caps violate customer agreements offering unlimited service. Comcast in past years has advertised that subscribers have unlimited downloads.

But Comcast doesn't have contracts with most customers that promise unlimited bandwidth, Douglas said. Comcast's terms of service allow the provider to change those terms, and generally focus on acceptable use, he said.