Reprobus makes some good points, but falls into the trap of measurement. First paragraph, "The ISPs push that concept because it's the only measurable flow they can use against us in this scam." Nothing could be further from the truth. Internet usage is not measureble. You must have an agreed upon metric in order to measure something. And so the telcoms say, "we do - it's the gigabyte" And then we ask them, "Well then do you count every byte coming down the line as part of that gigabyte?" The first answer you'll get is "Yes". Then when you mention that TCP/IP "traffic" consists of huge, huge amounts of non-end-user data that the Phone company uses to route and verify packet communication and do they measure those bytes as well, you get a "No, only the requested data" or "No, only downloads not page views." (!! I actually got that from a Bell Canada rep!!) Ask then, about how a poor signal to noise ratio increases the number of error caused re-sent packets. Are originals and re-sends counted, How can you tell the difference?" Then mention the TCP/IP packets on your line if you have any form of VOIP or digital phone service or digital cable service. Their minds start spinning and the line goes dead - literally. They hang up.The technical guys will then tell you that they have algorithms for estimating, extrapolating, (guessing) the "user traffic" from total traffic. Fine you say, what are those algorithms. They go "Huhnnn, uhh, that's corporate trade secret." And now an analogy that Reprobus could have used: I go to the store to get a pound of hamburger. I find the burger and pick up a small pack and look for a scale. There is none in the store. So I go to the counter and the cashier says, "That'll be $75.00 for 8.5 kilos of beef." You say, "How do you know it weighs 8.5 kilos without using a scale?" and she says, "I can't tell you that, it's a coporate trade secret, but believe me, we know."There is a prime caveat in commercial law that is still the basis for contract law today - "Let the buyer beware" The implication is that NO SELLER CAN BE TRUSTED without proof. Do you trust that they figure out your usage to fair and legitimate standards or to standards that better align with their bottom line goals? That's pretty simple logic, eh!the ISP (Bell Internet)in my case forcibly changed my wireless access plan to Fibe 6 with the promise (verbal, they will not correspond in writing or email) of no extra fees. Then I get an email threat saying that I have used 12.58 gigabytes of my 25 gigabyte plan and there are 29 days left in the billing period! Their exhortation was to upgrade immediately to a more expensive plan. Two days later the threat was "you're over your limit and charges will apply but if you upgrade now your won't get extra charges. I finally, after two lengthy chats and 4 lengthy phone calls, got to speak to a supervisor who was actually quite pleasant, but uniformed. He is having someone above him get back to me by Monday (3 days). His parting plea to me was that I should upgrade to a better plan. My remark to that was, "I have been threaten via economic extortion to spend more per month for a better plan. Well I will consider buying a better plan when you explain the threat to me first. My $25.00 a month plan has $80 dollars (a maximum, why do they have a maximum if every gigabyte is an expense to them!!) a month in "extra usage" charges. Prove to me how you measured the $80 threat and I'll consider the "better plan".
ottytrain2:
