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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:19 pm
by GORDON
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:21 pm
by GORDON
Possibly dropping the plan to test in New York... possibly the entire tiered-usage plan?
http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S882395.shtml?cat=566
Senator Charles Schumer was in Rochester this afternoon to discuss Time Warner's new pricing plan for internet customers and announced that the company will be shelving their plans for tiered internet.
Time Warner's decision came in response to Schumer's and other's call, shortly after Schumer announced his opposition to the plan.
Time Warner had planned to charge its internet customers based on the amount of data they use. If you watch movies and TV shows online, it would drive up your bill.
Time Warner confirms they will not be going ahead with tiered pricing in our area but have yet to release an official statement. Their statement is expected at 3 p.m.
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:26 pm
by GORDON
http://stopthecap.com/2009....markets
StoptheCap! confirmed moments ago with the senator’s press secretary that this effectively ends tiered pricing in EVERY Time Warner market.
I somehow don't think this is over, though. I'm guessing fewer press releases next time they try it.
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:29 pm
by GORDON
This official press release is a lot more dubious, though:
Time Warner Cable Charts a New Course on Consumption Based Billing
Measurement Tools to be Made Available
(New York, NY) -- Time Warner Cable (NYSE:TWC) today announced it would alter plans to test Consumption Based Billing, shelving the trials while the customer education process continues.
Time Warner Cable Chief Executive Officer Glenn Britt said, “It is clear from the public response over the last two weeks that there is a great deal of misunderstanding about our plans to roll out additional tests on consumption based billing. As a result, we will not proceed with implementation of additional tests until further consultation with our customers and other interested parties, ensuring that community needs are being met. While we continue to believe that consumption based billing may be the best pricing plan for consumers, we want to do everything we can to inform our customers of our plans and have the benefit of their views as part of our testing process.”
Time Warner Cable also announced that it is working to make measurement tools available as quickly as possible. These tools will help customers understand how much bandwidth they consume and aid in the dialog going forward.
Britt added, “We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Schumer, our customers and all of the other interested parties as the process moves forward, to ensure that informed decisions are made about the best way to continue to provide our customers with the level of service that they expect and deserve from Time Warner Cable.”
Sounds like it isn't over by a damned sight.
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:41 pm
by TPRJones
Nope, and in that first link you posted on this page they specifically say "we're going to wait until October" with the unstated bit being "when people have forgotten".
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:48 pm
by GORDON
Leisher, does Buckeye Cable internet have caps? I think I heard Comcast had a 250GB cap.
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:52 pm
by GORDON
It's a god damned deal with the devil Either let TWC abuse their monopoly rights (where it exists) for last mile, or have the government start regulating and deciding what "fair caps" are. Grrr.
[url=http://digital-scholarship.org/digitalkoans/2009/04/14/bill-would-prohibit-internet-use-caps-congressman-eric-massa-to-introduce-broadband-intern
et-fairness-act/]http://digital-scholarship.org/digital....ess-act[/url]
The Massa Broadband Internet Fairness Act would prohibit unfair tiered price structures from internet providers. The bill will also address the importance of helping broadband providers create jobs and increase their bandwidth while increasing competition in areas currently served by only one provider.
"I am taking a leadership position on this issue because of all the phone calls, emails and faxes I've received from my district and all over the country," said Congressman Eric Massa. "Time Warner has announced an ill-conceived plan to charge residential and business broadband fees based on the amount of data they download. They have yet to explain how increased internet usage increases their costs." . . .
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:21 pm
by Leisher
I don't know about limits on Buckeye Cable. I've never reached a limit or even been warned about my activity being heavy and I've downloaded gigs of stuff in a single night while online gaming.
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:42 pm
by Malcolm
Back in the day, we didn't need the gov't to dismantle corrupt organizations. We took pitchforks & torches to those fuckers.
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:41 pm
by TheCatt
People hate monopolies.
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:04 pm
by TPRJones
GORDON wrote:It's a god damned deal with the devil Either let TWC abuse their monopoly rights (where it exists) for last mile, or have the government start regulating and deciding what "fair caps" are. Grrr.
Aw, hell no. The thing is, this too shall pass. It is inevitable that these companies will eventually give up trying to be content providers and just supply the pipe, then it's a fight for the lowest price in order to compete for subscribers. It'll take a few years for that all to play out, but it can't be stopped no matter how much they might try.
Well, there is one way to stop it. Throw some regulations into the mix and fuck it up. Take a system that sucks and codify into law.
No, there's no dilemma here. Keep government out of the way and let things run their course.
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:21 pm
by Vince
TPRJones wrote:Aw, hell no. The thing is, this too shall pass. It is inevitable that these companies will eventually give up trying to be content providers and just supply the pipe, then it's a fight for the lowest price in order to compete for subscribers. It'll take a few years for that all to play out, but it can't be stopped no matter how much they might try.
Well, there is one way to stop it. Throw some regulations into the mix and fuck it up. Take a system that sucks and codify into law.
No, there's no dilemma here. Keep government out of the way and let things run their course.
I agree. Get rid of the monopolies and it'll sort itself out after a while. Who'd have thought you could get a cell phone plan with unlimited minutes 10 years ago?
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:32 pm
by TheCatt
ok, but how do you get rid of the cable monopoly?
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:39 pm
by GORDON
honestly don't know... is it right to force them to share their lines, for a fee? Is it possible?
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:28 am
by TPRJones
Well, it is possible, at least that's what's going on with the electricity companies down here. The line owners sell at wholesale prices to third party companies that resell at various rate plans.
What will ultimately solve this, I think, is medium-to-long-range fat-pipe wifi technology. When you don't have to have so many wires to deliver the signal then the monopolies will start to crumble. That's on the horizon to look forward to.
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:51 am
by Leisher
People hate monopolies.
For the most part, yeah, but there are exceptions like the NFL.
Who'd have thought you could get a cell phone plan with unlimited minutes 10 years ago?
Be careful with cell phone companies and the word "unlimited" as it's usually a lie.
For example, AT&T's unlimited data plan is actually 20MB per month.
Someone explain to me how they're allowed to advertise it as "unlimited" because to me, that's fraud.
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:23 am
by TheCatt
TPRJones wrote:What will ultimately solve this, I think, is medium-to-long-range fat-pipe wifi technology. When you don't have to have so many wires to deliver the signal then the monopolies will start to crumble. That's on the horizon to look forward to.
Wireless will always be inferior to wired. But one day I guess it may be "sufficient"
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:56 am
by TPRJones
"Always"? That's a pretty strong statement.
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:07 am
by Malcolm
TPRJones wrote:"Always"? That's a pretty strong statement.
Well, just in terms of security alone : wired always has an advantage of wireless because of the physical connection between client & server.
That being said, I bet wireless can be brought to the point where it's "secure enough."
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:29 pm
by GORDON
I don't like the idea of my neighbors snooping my network.... or even knowing it exists. I've just about got my house wiring to the point where I can disable the wireless antenna completely. Pretty much just have to run 1 more line, and buy one of those networking dongles for the Wii, at this point.
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