What will you do if they start putting meters on broadband use?

[DRW50]

On December 21 the FCC is voting on a plan by the chair, Julius Genachowski, in which he has basically given the big telecoms a green light to start charging people on how much they do online. So someone who downloads a lot of files or watches streaming video might end up paying through the nose.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2010/12/pay-as-you-go_internet_prices.html

I've read that this already happens in Canada, which leads to instances like some Canadian service providers jacking up prices to help keep people from watching videos on Netflix. How do those of you in Canada (or elsewhere, including here, who have this type of plan) deal with it? Do you just not watch very much Netflix or Youtube or not much downloading off itunes or wherever?

I tend to watch a lot of stuff on Youtube and had hoped to upload eventually but I guess if this becomes something you would have to pay big money for I'll just stop, and try to save the videos I enjoy so I can watch them offline.

[dragonflies]

I don't see this going over well in the US and this would kill youtube for sure

[jcar03]

Don't we already pay enough for our internet?

[darraholic]

Hmm it must depend on the provider here in Canada. I pay a flat fee and not based on usage.

ETA: Canada's Netflix is a joke so far.

[DRW50]

This is like cable -- they never think you can pay enough.

Stopthecap has written on this a fair amount.

http://stopthecap.com/

I think a lot of people in the US will be annoyed but there are a lot of clever little word choices and propaganda (which the media is always happy to help with) which amount to a) hey, you're paying for the bandwidth other people hog, so this saves you money! (it doesn't, as I think those with minimal Internet use still have to pay a flat amount, but they will be told they are still somehow saving) b ) those bandwidth hogs are taking up so much room on the Internet, and now that room can be used to help poor people get computers! If you don't pay through the nose then you're a selfish elitist!

Google has been trying to get involved with all this so I wonder if they will try to do something to save Youtube.

Of course if these rules had been in place years ago there might not even be a Google.

I hear a lot about Rogers.

[darraholic]

I believ Rogers does charge based on usage. I use Shaw and they don't.

[DRW50]

That's good. Hopefully the US might also have some plans which don't. If not I will move to Canada...

[beebs]

Bell charges as well by how much you use monthly, but between my roommate and myself, we only ran close to our limit once when my roommate downloaded Season 1 of Castle, and I'm constantly on YouTube. We pay a total of about $33/month for that. Mind you, that's also a student rate. Regularly that service would be $45/month so...

Honestly, it's not THAT big a crimp on my internet usage, I'm always on YouTube and I'm not crying. I don't think this will mean an end to YouTube, personally.

[DRW50]

That's interesting. So do you have a specific cap?

[beebs]

I do, it's 30GB/month. And honestly, that's all two people on separate computers need, even when they're online constantly. If you've only got one computer and don't download torrents, you'll be fine with that. I find it absolutely manageable, and the download speeds are excellent.

[DRW50]

Thanks. That's interesting. It could work but then I'd have to give up the British soaps, aside from those which are sometimes put on Youtube.

I've heard some caps go up to 250 GB, but I'm not sure how much that would cost.

Who is in your avatar?

[Sylph]

OMG, I am sorry to intrude, I'm not as worried as Carl, but, beebs, that avatar is hysterical! Just like the previous one!

[beebs]

LOL, I told myself I'd only ever replace Amy Poehler if I could top it. Now I've got a high bar to jump.

It's one of the contestants from RuPaul's drag race. LOVE. IT.

But yes, back to broadband

You can probably circumvent the BBC iPlayer issues if it comes to that, but it's rather complicated. If you're watching Corrie on the other hand, I know CBC streams that on their website, so you MAY be able to pick it up via CBC.ca, though we're about 2 years behind the UK, I BELIEVE.

Regardless, here's hoping you guys don't get saddled with any stupid caps and expensive broadband. Even if it isn't crimping me in any real way, if I had to choose between watching my usage and not, the choice is obvious. Especially if you're downloading whole episodes of soaps on a regular basis.

[Toups]

Wait a minute...so you guys in the States can download as many GBs as you want? I'm with Rogers and I pay $47 (before tax) for 60 GBs a month with "Up to 10 Mbps" for downloads. And then for every GB I go over, I pay $2. What is it like over in Europe?

[sheilaforever]

Germany: internet flatrate without any download limits (although sometimes over-excessive down-/uploaders get their subscriptions yanked...), you pay solely for your connection. Starting at 20€ per low ADSL up to 50/60€ for 16 Mbps - prices do depend on providers. Prices do depend heavily wheather you get your internet via cable or telecom broadband.