How to resolve email throttling issues with Spectrum/TWC?

Summary

Email throttling with Spectrum/TWC involves rate limiting, often indicated by AUP#13XX codes from Cloudmark (Charter Communications). Diagnosing requires gathering data like timestamps and error messages, particularly noting 'exceeded maximum connection limit'. Key strategies include contacting Cloudmark, monitoring bounce messages, gradually warming up IPs, segmenting lists, distributing emails across IPs, and potentially using throttling software. Improving sender reputation via list hygiene, SPF/DKIM/DMARC, and easy unsubscribe options is crucial, and understanding the mail system configuration is essential. Even Spectrum/TWC's own emails may face deliverability issues.

Key findings

  • Cloudmark Throttling: Spectrum/TWC uses Cloudmark for rate limiting, indicated by AUP#13XX codes.
  • Internal Issues Exist: Spectrum/TWC also experiences deliverability challenges internally.
  • Error Analysis: Error messages provide insight into the cause of throttling.
  • Data-Driven Diagnosis: Diagnosing requires gathering timestamps, IPs, and specific error messages.
  • Rate Limiting Standard Practice: SMTP servers and ESPs use rate limiting to manage load and prevent abuse.
  • Reputation Impact: Poor list hygiene and sending practices negatively impact reputation, increasing the likelihood of throttling.
  • IP Warmup Importance: Warming up IP addresses is essential to prevent triggering throttling.
  • Segmentation Benefits: List segmentation reduces the perceived volume of emails.

Key considerations

  • Contact Cloudmark: Reach out to Cloudmark for direct assistance with throttling issues.
  • Monitor Bounces: Continuously monitor bounce messages for specific error codes.
  • Gather Data: Collect timestamps, IPs, and error messages for detailed analysis.
  • Improve List Hygiene: Focus on building a clean email list and removing inactive or invalid addresses.
  • Authenticate Email: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to improve sender authentication.
  • Gradual IP Warmup: Implement a gradual IP warm-up process with smaller sending volumes.
  • Segment Email List: Segment email lists and stagger sends to reduce the perceived volume.
  • Review System Configuration: Understand mail sending system configuration to identify bottlenecks.

What email marketers say
12Marketer opinions

Email throttling with Spectrum/TWC often involves rate limiting, indicated by AUP#13XX codes, as Charter Communications (Cloudmark) imposes restrictions. Troubleshooting involves contacting Cloudmark, monitoring bounce messages for error codes, and adjusting sending volume. Strategies include warming up IP addresses gradually, segmenting email lists, spreading email over multiple IP addresses, and using throttling software. Improving sender reputation through clean lists, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and easy unsubscribe options also helps. Internal challenges within Spectrum/TWC may also contribute to deliverability issues.

Key opinions

  • Rate Limiting: Spectrum/TWC uses rate limiting (AUP#13XX codes) implemented by Cloudmark, indicating a desire for slower email delivery rather than direct reputation blocks.
  • Internal Issues: Even Spectrum/TWC's own emails experience deliverability problems to their clients.
  • Bounce Monitoring: Monitoring bounce messages for specific error codes helps identify the cause of throttling and allows for adjustments in sending practices.
  • IP Warm-up: Gradually warming up IP addresses is crucial to avoid triggering throttling mechanisms by establishing a sending reputation over time.
  • List Segmentation: Segmenting email lists and staggering sends helps reduce the perceived volume of emails, mitigating throttling triggers.
  • Sender Reputation: Maintaining a clean email list, authenticating email with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and providing easy unsubscribe options are vital for improving sender reputation.

Key considerations

  • Contact Cloudmark: Reach out to Cloudmark for troubleshooting assistance, as they manage Charter Communications' email security.
  • Throttling Software: Consider using real-time email throttling software to analyze delivery and adjust sending parameters.
  • Multiple IPs: Distribute email traffic across multiple IP addresses to avoid overwhelming recipient servers.
  • Adjust Sending Volume: Reduce sending volume to spectrum/TWC and watch to see if the throttling reduces.
  • Engagement Metrics: Monitor engagement metrics, such as opens and clicks, to assess the impact of sending adjustments and further refine strategies.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit suggests throttling can be due to the recipient server limiting the number of connections or emails it accepts from a particular IP address within a given time frame. They advise monitoring the specific error codes returned in bounce messages to identify the cause and adjust sending practices accordingly.

April 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from ExpertSender recommends configuring SPF/DKIM/DMARC records, implement a double opt-in sign-up process, and provide clear unsubscribe links in your emails. These measures improve sender reputation and reduce the likelihood of being throttled.

July 2023 - ExpertSender
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel Blog explains to improve deliverability, focus on building a clean email list, segmenting your audience, warming up your IP address, authenticating your email (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and monitoring your sender reputation.

July 2023 - Neil Patel Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid suggests using throttling software that analyses delivery in real-time. It also recommends using dedicated IP address.

October 2021 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid recommends a gradual IP warm-up process, starting with small sending volumes and gradually increasing them over time. They suggest monitoring engagement metrics and adjusting sending volumes based on feedback from ISPs.

January 2022 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests contacting CloudMark, which Charter Communications uses to protect its clients, for troubleshooting.

March 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow says that the receiving mail server will throttle connections from any single IP Address to prevent being overloaded with mail. Brad suggests you should spread your email over multiple IP Addresses.

March 2023 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares information about AUP#13XX codes, stating they are from Cloudmark (Charter Communications), not Comcast, and indicate rate limits, not reputation issues. Spectrum wants emails delivered slowly.

March 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet Help Center explains that throttling is ISPs limiting the number of emails they will accept from a specific sender within a specific timeframe. He suggests warming up IP addresses gradually and segmenting email lists to send to smaller groups first.

May 2024 - Mailjet Help Center
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus shares focusing on segmenting your email list and staggering sends can help avoid triggering throttling mechanisms. They explain list segmentation and staggering allows for the same amount of mail to be sent but makes it seem like lower volumes to mail service providers, reducing spam scores.

December 2022 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange explains that rate limiting is a common practice by ISPs to prevent spam. He suggests monitoring bounce messages for specific error codes and adjusting sending volume accordingly.

January 2024 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that even their own emails (working for a Spectrum business unit) have trouble being delivered to their clients.

August 2021 - Email Geeks

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Email throttling is often related to underlying sender reputation issues or connection limits, requiring careful diagnosis and data gathering. Analyzing error messages for specifics like 'exceeded maximum connection limit' and understanding the type of throttle imposed are vital. Poor list hygiene or questionable sending practices can lead to throttling; improving sender reputation with best practices is often necessary.

Key opinions

  • Detailed Data Needed: Diagnosing throttling necessitates detailed data: timestamps, target IPs, error messages.
  • Error Messages: Error messages provide key insights (e.g., 'exceeded maximum connection limit').
  • Reputation Link: Throttling is frequently a symptom of underlying sender reputation issues.
  • Configuration Matters: Understanding mail system configuration aids in resolving throttling.

Key considerations

  • Gather Data: Collect timestamps, target IPs, and error messages to understand the issue better.
  • Analyze Error Codes: Carefully examine the error codes returned to understand the cause.
  • Improve Reputation: Focus on improving list hygiene and implementing best sending practices.
  • Review Configuration: Review your mail sending system's configuration to identify potential bottlenecks.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that diagnosing connection throttling issues requires gathering detailed data, including timestamps, target IP addresses, and error messages. He also explains that understanding how your mail-sending system is configured is important, and knowing the specific type of throttle being imposed can help you resolve it.

August 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that when experiencing throttling, it is important to look at the error message returned. These error messages will usually include information relating to why you have been throttled, such as "exceeded maximum connection limit".

January 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains throttling is often a symptom of reputation problems. Poor list hygiene or questionable sending practices can lead to reduced sending limits. Improving sender reputation through best practices will alleviate throttling.

June 2024 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

SMTP servers and email service providers (ESPs) like PowerMTA, Microsoft Exchange Online, Google Workspace, and Amazon SES implement rate limiting and sending limits to manage server load, prevent abuse, and maintain system health. These limits are based on factors like sender IP, domain, message content, recipient rate, and message size. Resolving throttling requires adhering to sending guidelines (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, unsubscribe options), monitoring bounce messages for error codes, configuring concurrency and retry settings, and staying within defined limits.

Key findings

  • Rate Limiting Standard: SMTP servers use rate limiting based on IP, domain, and message content for load management.
  • Configurable Throttling: Tools like PowerMTA allow administrators to configure concurrency and retry settings.
  • Service Limits: ESPs such as Exchange Online, Google Workspace, and Amazon SES impose sending limits.
  • Abuse Prevention: Sending limits and rate limiting are in place to protect against spam and abuse.
  • Bounce Monitoring: Monitoring bounce messages for error codes is crucial for understanding the cause of throttling.

Key considerations

  • Adhere to Guidelines: Adhere to bulk sending guidelines provided by ISPs and ESPs (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
  • Monitor Error Codes: Pay close attention to bounce messages and interpret the specific error codes.
  • Configure Retries: Adjust concurrency and retry settings to optimize email delivery.
  • Stay within Limits: Ensure that sending practices remain within the defined sending limits of the service.
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft Learn states that Exchange Online implements sending limits to protect against spam and maintain system health. These limits include recipient rate limits, sending limits, and message size restrictions. Exceeding these limits can result in temporary or permanent sending restrictions.

November 2021 - Microsoft Learn
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help advises bulk email senders to adhere to their bulk sending guidelines, which include authenticating email with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, maintaining low spam complaint rates, and providing easy unsubscribe options. They also recommend monitoring bounce messages for specific error codes.

August 2022 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from AWS states that Amazon SES (Simple Email Service) has sending limits, including a maximum send rate and a daily sending quota. These limits are in place to protect the reputation of the service and prevent abuse. Requests to increase these limits can be made through the AWS Management Console.

January 2023 - Amazon Web Services
Technical article

Documentation from Message Systems describes how PowerMTA handles throttling by allowing administrators to configure concurrency and retry settings. It recommends adjusting these parameters based on the specific error codes and feedback received from ISPs.

March 2025 - Message Systems
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor specifies that SMTP servers may implement rate limiting based on various factors, including sender IP address, domain, and message content, to manage server load and prevent abuse. SMTP clients must be prepared to handle temporary rejection codes and retry delivery later.

August 2024 - RFC Editor