[BGCarrera32]

I'm paying around $74 a month for "performance" internet with Comcast (cable). My upload speed is around 5 mbps, download around 20 mpbs (confirmed with both Comcast and SpeedTest). My issue is that as a Netflix streaming user, they're restricting Netflix speed and I am unable to get >1.5 mbps which yields terrible video quality. An online chat with the ever so helpful Comcast customer service basically confirmed that they are throttling Netflix, as she is telling me that "Netflix is not compatible with Comcast." I never had this problem until about 3 or 4 months ago. Time of day seems to make no difference.

I want the speed that I am paying for. I checked into high speed internet bundled with my home phone service via CenturyLink, and they offer phone plus 40 mpbs service for about the same money a month before taxes. So 2 questions:

1) It doesn't look like CenturyLink throttles Netflix, but they do claim that they can restrict bandwidth in high use periods from 7 to 11 PM and impose a 250 GB cap. I have no idea how big an HD episode of Top Gear or something is, is 250 GB enough?

2) Can you actually do 40 mpbs over a phone line, or will they drop a new cable to the house? I have the old analog phone lines in the ground out in the yard.

Thoughts? Seems like there are some unhappy campers with both companies after some Google searching, but a lot less with CenturyLink. Interested to hear opinions or experiences either way.