Why metering Internet makes sense
I may not make a lot of friends with this post, since most people prefer "all you can eat Internet plans". Other utilities are already metered like water and electricity, so why such an uproar over Internet access is not obvious to me. Internet usage here in India is already metered. This morning Time Warner is attempting that in US. The main reasons why metering makes sense for the cable provider are obvious.
1. It prevents freeloaders. Many people in the US do not secure their wireless router with a passcode since they dont pay by amount downloaded. If you are going to pay by amount used, you will secure your wifi and ensure your password is guarded.
2. There's incentive to invest in the network as application bandwidth intense applications are more prevalent.
3. Allows for structured provisioning and capacity planning of their network, thus ensuring that more Earthlink type fiasco's dont happen.
For consumers, there are benefits though:
1. Makes your home network more secure. If you do put a password on your network, you tend to prevent unauthorized usage, typical to not allowing people to come by and use your network for illegal means - I dont mean downloading free music or the like, but for really nefarious activities.
2. You pay for what you use and dont have to pay for those that abuse the network at the high end of usage.
There is an negative (positive depending on the way you look at it). I have stopped viewing videos on the net and my use of YouTube has dropped by 80%. I used to view all videos that my friends recommended to me, but now that's rare.
The downside is there are over 500 pictures I have taken in the last few weeks that are still waiting to be uploaded.
1. It prevents freeloaders. Many people in the US do not secure their wireless router with a passcode since they dont pay by amount downloaded. If you are going to pay by amount used, you will secure your wifi and ensure your password is guarded.
2. There's incentive to invest in the network as application bandwidth intense applications are more prevalent.
3. Allows for structured provisioning and capacity planning of their network, thus ensuring that more Earthlink type fiasco's dont happen.
For consumers, there are benefits though:
1. Makes your home network more secure. If you do put a password on your network, you tend to prevent unauthorized usage, typical to not allowing people to come by and use your network for illegal means - I dont mean downloading free music or the like, but for really nefarious activities.
2. You pay for what you use and dont have to pay for those that abuse the network at the high end of usage.
There is an negative (positive depending on the way you look at it). I have stopped viewing videos on the net and my use of YouTube has dropped by 80%. I used to view all videos that my friends recommended to me, but now that's rare.
The downside is there are over 500 pictures I have taken in the last few weeks that are still waiting to be uploaded.
Came by your blog in my unlimited internet access via Twitter and if I had to pay by usage my twitter interactions would most certainly be done.
Also, while your idea has a valid point. Give the rising cost of fuel and incentive of more people to have the ability to telecommute would you suggest that employers pay for this accessibility for those that work from home? What about consultants and independent researchers who work from home?
I agree that the time wasting activities in which people indulge would be drastically reduced but I think this would hurt some of the best collaborative & innovative relationships. Just a thought.
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Suki
You raise some good points.
1. I think twitter is mostly low bandwidth (I may be mistaken)
2. Time wasting is a very personal thing - one person's waste of time is probably another person's business development effort
3. I think people still have to realize that metered usage is where its headed, similar to other utilities, so they will factor the costs into their quotes. Electricity is also metered for consultants and independent researchers, and they know how to handle that right?
When we go from a perspective of abundance to one of scarcity, (like electricity, fuel, clean air, water, etc.) we tend to conserve for the greater good.
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Pure economics would suggest that this was bound to happen. And it does make people to think innovative ways of using that bandwidth. That Youtube thing you talked about, maybe if Youtube moved to advanced codecs like H.264/VC1, you can enjoy the same even with the lower bandwidth.
Life has to progress independent of man made speed breakers like this !
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