Comcast to Double Download Speeds

Cable provider Comcast plans to roll out a new feature starting in New England that will double the speed of customer downloads from 6Mbps and 8Mbps to 12Mbps and 16Mbps. The PowerBoost feature is expected to roll out to the rest of Comcast's customer base by the end of the year.

Unlike previous speed upgrades, however, Comcast says the PowerBoost feature will only be available when extra network capacity is available. When not available, the standard rates are guaranteed, the company said. Upload speeds, a common complaint among customers, will also not change.