So Comcast Cable (an ISP in the states) has just annouced that it will be capping usage for service at the 250 GB limit.  Link is here.

So this means that all that said the digital distrubution and media transfer train is a coming, it just got derailed.  This will not stop the bit torrent people but it will make the normal households worry about it's download habits.  Parents and concern consumers will both watch what is being used as download, including movies, music and online video games.  Even though most won't even come close to hitting that 250 gb max, just knowing its there will curb alot impulse purchases, downloads, and online viewership.  It will be interesting to see how this effects the online services and gaming services.

I wonder much bandwidth I just wasted posting it....  DAMN IT STARTED ALREADY!!! 

Yeah, it really sucks because MMOs and other bandwidth intensive programs could hamper a household with say 4 internet active members.

I think game companies may get hit hard because people will be less inclined to pay monthly fees to play games that they will have a limited playtime for because their ISP.

meh, what a lot of crap

Yes, digital distribution is the way of the future! Along with bandwith caps!

I imagine that comcast will have a premium service for a higher price for a higher limit, or unlimited... That's how they'll make their money.

I think this is the first step for Comcast. If Congress let's them institute the 250 gig limit without questioning it, it will only be a matter of time until they start to lower the cap. Smaller ISPs in the US already enforce caps in the 50 - 75 gig range. Ultimately, the larger ISPs want to institute a cell phone model. They will have bandwidth tiers with premium customers able to purchase unlimited usage. Also, I suspect they will have on network/off-network download charges. Meaning, if you buy your movie rental from Comcast you will it will not go against your bandwidth allocation, but if you download it from Netflix it will cost you a couple of gigs.

Is this for an area or something? Or individual customers?

My download cap (and I do ok by Australian standards) is currently 12GB a month on a 1.5mbps connection.........

Wow.

12 gigabytes?  LOL!  That's like 4 movies.

The 250 gb limit is for every customer of the service.  Comcast are the largest provider of high speed internet access in the states, I believe.

^^ heh, yeah, in the land of Oz a 250GB cap is unheard of. I'm on a 25GB cap, ADSL2+ and it was the best value plan available when I signed up.

I wonder if digital destribution will be able to stop piracy?

Yeah im looking at a 20mbps down 1mbps up 20GB cap per month plan.  If I get it, it will be one of the best plans available in the country, bested only by plans like yours.