A very recent post on PCMech.com touched on something that every Internet user needs to take notice of…’Net Neutrality.  While the article, “Metered Bandwidth = Bad Idea” was well written, it only scratches the surface of this important subject.

‘Net Neutrality is the notion that Internet users have the RIGHT to determine what content they view, and the applications they use to view it, on the Internet. Seems pretty logical, but this basic freedom is being threatened by ISPs and  Big Telco companies…the very companies YOU use to access the Internet. Continued

Time-Warner is testing out a new ISP pricing schema in Beaumont TX whereas people would be given a monthly data usage cap between 5 and 40GB. Anything over that amount and the customer is charged $1 per GB.

This has “bad idea” written all over it because it restricts customers as to what they can do on the internet. With the advent of video-intensive (and thereby bandwidth-intensive) services like internet television and the like, putting a cap on people’s bandwidth does nothing but get in the way.

TW, if you happen to read this, here’s my suggestion: Give people the option of whether they want this or not. Price the “capped” plans lower than the regular non-capped plans and people will go for it. You know this would work. If you completely switch over the pricing schema to metered-only you’ll not only have customers but businesses going after your throats.

Going 100% metered is short-term gain, long-term loss. Don’t do it.

[Source: washingtonpost.com]