packet loss!

I've been consistently getting 40+% packet loss on traffic outside my cable modem for the past several days (checked cables); Comcast is sending someone out wed. but thought it strange the first few hops I can't identify:
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>tracert www.yahoo.com

Tracing route to www.yahoo.akadns.net [66.94.230.43]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 * 27 ms 9 ms 12.244.24.17
3 11 ms * 9 ms 12.244.67.69
4 * 13 ms * 12.244.67.65
5 15 ms 16 ms * 12.127.32.17
6 16 ms * 16 ms tbr2-p013701.sffca.ip.att.net [12.123.13.177]
7 23 ms 15 ms 44 ms ggr2-p390.sffca.ip.att.net [12.123.13.194]
8 16 ms 17 ms * so-1-1-0.edge1.SanJose1.Level3.net [209.0.227.29
]
9 18 ms * 27 ms so-1-2-0.bbr1.SanJose1.Level3.net [209.244.3.137
]
10 17 ms 16 ms * ge-10-1.ipcolo3.SanJose1.Level3.net [4.68.123.75
]
11 28 ms * 19 ms unknown.Level3.net [64.152.69.30]
12 25 ms 16 ms 25 ms UNKNOWN-66-218-82-230.yahoo.com [66.218.82.230]

13 16 ms * 36 ms p12.www.scd.yahoo.com [66.94.230.43]

Trace complete.

Any ideas would be much appreciated, otherwise I may be billed if the problem is on my end.....