In a bandwidth policing apparatus which accommodates a large number of
user groups, bandwidth policing for each user group is performed at high
speed. When there is any extra bandwidth in bandwidth for a user group,
the contracted committed information rate for each user is guaranteed
invariably while using this effectively. The bandwidth policing apparatus
accumulates packets of a plurality of user groups under bandwidth
policing in the same packet accumulate FIFO. Also, for a packet which
does not exceed the contracted bandwidth for each user, the contracted
bandwidth for each user is guaranteed by deciding that the packet does
not exceed the contracted bandwidth for each user group.