The rapid growth of online videos, music and games has created a new Internet sin: using it too much.

Comcast has punished some transgressors by cutting off their Internet service, arguing that excessive downloaders hog Internet capacity and slow down the network for other customers. The company declines to reveal its download limits.

"You have no way of knowing how much is too much," said Sandra Spalletta of Rockville, whose Internet service was suspended in March after Comcast sent her a letter warning that she and her teenage son were using too much bandwidth. They cut back on downloads but were still disconnected. She said the company would not tell her how to monitor their bandwidth use in order to comply with the limits.

By Emily A. Canal, Globe Correspondent | September 1, 2007

On the inside, a set of bathrooms at Emerson College looks like
standard fare. On the outside, there are newfangled signs to ease the
concerns of students who prefer not to signal that they are entering a
men's or women's bathroom.

The symbols are gender-neutral, a picture of a man and a woman. In
response to students' pleas, Emerson has changed the signs that used
to be aimed at a specific gender on 21 restrooms in campus buildings
and one of the college's two dormitories.

Emerson's changes, made in preparation for the upcoming school year,
mirror moves by Tufts University and the University of Vermont, part
of a small but growing number of universities modifying policies and
facilities on behalf of transgender students. Several colleges have
amended nondiscrimination policies to include gender identity, but
student groups recently began pursuing more concrete changes,
including gender-neutral housing, locker rooms, and bathrooms.

"This will bring more equal opportunities to the students of Emerson,"
said Jessica Ganon, a junior at Emerson who campaigned with fellow
students to get the school to provide the gender-neutral bathrooms. "I
am much happier that this makes life easier for others. I felt sorry
for those who felt unsure of where to go."

Two student groups, the Emerson Alliance for Gays, Lesbians and
Everyone and the Student Government Association, pitched the idea of
gender-neutral restrooms to school officials last spring. Individual
students also sought the change.

"I am all in favor of supporting students and their expressions," said
David Haden, the college's associate dean of housing and resident
life. "Having gender-neutral bathrooms doesn't take anything away from
anyone; it just gives students more options."

Haden added that his research showed that only a few dozen schools in
the nation have gender-blind facilities.

The school does not know how many students identify themselves as
transgender, an umbrella term used for someone who does not identify
with the traditional male or female gender. The term, which can apply
to crossdressers and transsexuals, is focused on a person's gender
identity or expression and does not involve sexual orientation.

Emerson's gender-neutral restrooms were created from previous
facilities reserved for students or faculty with special needs, Haden
said. Those with special needs can still use the single-unit rooms.
The school's Little Building dormitory now has one gender-neutral
bathroom, including a bathtub and shower, on every floor. Men and
women live on each of the dorm's floors and previously had access only
to separate men's and women's restrooms.

Students said they wanted to make people feel more comfortable by not
having to choose a gender at the bathroom door.

"A harassment experience doesn't have to be physical," said Rik Haber,
a 2007 graduate of Emerson identified as gender-queer, a term for
those who identity their gender outside of male or female. "It is
about feeling comfortable going to the bathroom."

Haber was one of the students who campaigned for the facilities before
graduating. Elizabeth Whitney, a scholar in residence at Emerson,
identifies herself as femme, a term that describes gender identity
outside the binary male or female. Whitney has helped students raise
awareness on the gender-neutral bathrooms through advocacy and the
material she taught.

"I have felt unsafe in Emerson's bathrooms because I have seen people
subjected to gender-policing," Whitney said.

She and her partner, she recalled, entered a women's restroom, and her
partner received odd looks from the women inside. The people in the
restroom checked the sign on the door to make sure they were in a
women's restroom. "We are so socialized about gender norms that some
people do it without realizing they are doing it," she said of gender
discrimination.

Students said they approved of the change.

"People shouldn't feel awkward about using public restrooms," said Emi
Saza, a sophomore at Emerson College. "I haven't felt threatened in a
bathroom, but I am glad that those students who have got their voices
heard."

Tufts University began adding gender-neutral bathrooms in 2005, also
in response to student requests. "Why not have these gender-neutral
facilities that are more convenient for everybody?" said Kim Thurler,
speaking for the university.

The University of Vermont set aside gender-neutral bathrooms in its
new student center and, in 2003, began changing male and female
bathrooms into unisex ones, using Emerson's approach: It simply
changed the signs. A few years ago, Simmons College renovated
one-person bathrooms around campus that accommodate any gender, but
did it for convenience, a college spokeswoman said.

Cities also have begun creating public gender-neutral bathrooms. "It
is extremely important to make space for all kinds of people," said
Gunner Scott, who cochairs the Massachusetts Transgender Political
Coalition group.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.

(c) Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.