Interesting People mailing list archives
Re: It's Showtime for Tiered Broadband
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:04:47 -0400
Begin forwarded message: From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com> Date: August 11, 2008 8:39:57 PM EDT To: dave () farber net Cc: lauren () vortex com Subject: Re: [IP] It's Showtime for Tiered Broadband
Time to look at why they like tiered approaches. Does wreck internet video deliveries economics. Sounds like maybe carriers should be banned from media delivery. djf
Dave, You're not kidding. Or, count their own content within the metered limits. I realize that the economics of intranet vs. Internet data are different, but these caps are in the Twilight Zone -- they're obviously arbitrary and aimed at suppressing the use of outside content providers. The TW Texas "Golden Triangle" info pages describing how "Our new usage-based billing makes your Internet experience even better" are a real hoot (must be a typo in there where they accidentally substituted "your" for "our"? Yeah, right, pay more for what you used to get for less. Now that's an improvement (if you're a TW stockholder, perhaps). Wait until people see what automatic software updates do to their usage, especially at the lower tier levels ... The page also describes 1GB as 70K e-mails (lessee now, subtracting out the spam, that leaves about 5 messages per GB these days, eh?) or 1344 hours of Web browsing. Hours? I think that's the first time I've heard Web usage expressed in terms of browsing time in such a manner. "What's the conversion factor between browsing hours and bytes?" he asks. A related page explains that bandwidth caps are already covered by the terms of service: Also, the terms of service for Road Runner subscribers notes that "a subscriber (sic) may not be used to engage in any conduct that interferes with Operator's ability to provide service to others, including the use of excessive bandwidth." Of course, TW need not *demonstrate* or even assert that any actual interference is taking place, hmmm? They claim 1GB == 7 hours of low-resolution video (YouTube) -- but YouTube resolution is on the rise so even that number is suspect. Most amusing part perhaps: 1GB == 3 hours of standard definition streaming video or 45 minutes of high-definition streaming video. So, at their highest tier where you get 40GB/mo, you can watch a grand total of one hour of HD video a day (by this calculation) -- *if* you don't use your connection for *anything* else. A simply dandy way to nip those troublesome outside video providers in the bud. Of course, you can watch all of those wonderful Time Warner adult movies (and any other TW content) to the limit of your heart's desire with no bandwidth limits at all! The choice is clear, dear TW subscribers! The fox is guarding the henhouse, plain and simple. If this situation isn't ripe for regulatory scrutiny, we might as well shut down the FCC and FTC. Hey Congress, knock knock. Anybody Home? --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein lauren () vortex com or lauren () pfir org Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 http://www.pfir.org/lauren Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org Co-Founder, NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com - - -
Time to look at why they like tiered approaches. Does wreck internet video deliveries economics. Sounds like maybe carriers should be banned from media delivery. djf Begin forwarded message: From: dewayne () warpspeed com (Dewayne Hendricks) Date: August 11, 2008 2:41:12 PM EDT To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <xyzzy () warpspeed com> Subject: [Dewayne-Net] It's Showtime for Tiered Broadband [Note: This item comes from friend Randy Burge. DLH] From: Randy Burge <burge () proactive to> Date: August 11, 2008 11:19:40 AM PDT To: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com> Subject: It¹s Showtime for Tiered Broadband It’s Showtime for Tiered Broadband Stacey Higginbotham, Monday, August 11, 2008 at 9:00 AM PT The two-month grace period is ending for Time Warner Cable customers in Beaumont, Texas, who are part of the ISPs tiered broadband trials. A spokesman for Time Warner Cable declined to comment but confirmed that residents would soon see bills reflecting the $1 per gigabyte overage charge for those who have consumed more than the 5 GB allowed under the $29.95 plan all the way up to the 40 GB allowed under the $54.90 plan. Now they’ll have to pay them. <snip> <http://gigaom.com/2008/08/11/its-showtime-for-tiered-broadband/ >RSS Feed: <http://www.warpspeed.com/wordpress> ------------------------------------------- Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
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Current thread:
- It's Showtime for Tiered Broadband David Farber (Aug 11)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: It's Showtime for Tiered Broadband David Farber (Aug 12)
- Re: It's Showtime for Tiered Broadband David Farber (Aug 12)
- It's Showtime for Tiered Broadband David Farber (Aug 12)
- Re: It's Showtime for Tiered Broadband David Farber (Aug 12)