Likely plan and impact

Likely plan: $39.99/month

Likely BW usage: At least 30-40GB/month (at least 1GB per day), but if they expand into video or streaming audio could max that out with 10 movie downloads or a 4-5 purchased online games through Steam or Xbox Live or PS3.�

Online time at cap: 2-3 computers at 7mb/s, capped at 20gb 9 ACTIVE hours of online time per month or 18 hours of total usage per month -distributed among all computers (assuming 1/2 the time is spent as wait time). Roughly .75 hours per day

Cost of basic plan: $30/month (probably what they have now) + 10-20gb overage at $1/gb = $40-60/month

Cost of Standard plan: $44/month plus $1/gb overage * 10 = $54/month

Cost of new turbo plan: $75/month, no bandwidth overage charge (3x what they pay now)

Possible max cost of either plan: $150

Biggest dangers: Discovering new bandwidth intensive services, without realizing impact, or having their computer system compromised or their wireless access used without their knowledge could easily max out their bandwidth, which they wouldn't find out about until they got their monthly bill.

Negative effects: Stifles use of bandwidth in fear that they will go over budget and/or doubles or triples current budget. Have to watch end-of-month like a hawk and put off things like reading emails, uploading pictures if close to limit.

Cap usage profile

How will the cap affect this sort of user. This profile is for your typical family internet user, living in a household with at least 2 computers, and a gaming console.

Let's look at what this kind of user will typically use their internet connection for:

Email and heavy browsing (homework, youtube, sharing information on school assignments)
Stay in touch with family
Some work usage (login to work, check work email, etc.)
Has 2 or 3 computers and/or gaming consoles shared amongst the household
Medium technical proficiency
Has a hardware router or firewall, may have wireless

Their largest bandwidth consumption will typically be

Windows and other program updates (up to 2GB per month)
Viewing and/or uploading pictures to email and social networking sites
Viewing videos on YouTube and other streaming video sites
Email sending and receiving, including large attachments
General surfing traffic to many websites
Medium amount of social networking (Facebook, myspace)
Some casual online gaming
Occasional purchases of online games
Online every day for at least 2 hours per day

This sort of user is reasonably sophisticated and uses a variety of tools to access information on the web. They are gaming, emailing from multiple accounts, using online picture sharing, watching some streaming video, researching schoolwork.

This is your typical $40/month user on TWC.

Alternatives

This user should, if Roadrunner imposes caps, consider an un-capped DSL plan. DSL is offered from a variety of vendors including Frontier and Choice One. We'd love to offer AT&T's UVerse or Verizon DSL here but they are not an option at this time. Although speed and uptime are more critical for this sort of user, DSL may still be the best solution available, since you have a predictable budget each month, and do not need to ration internet availability - thus suppressing internet usage.

Verizon FiOS would be an excellent solution when combined with a Television and Phone package, as the average cost for internet will go down, and speed will go up.

This site is not sponsored by Verizon

This site was created by a Rochester, NY resident who is passionate about our region and keeping it competitive with the rest of the world. The site is not sponsored by, affiliated with, or edited by Verizon or any of its subsidiaries. The owner of the site is not an agent of, nor does he resell, Verizon services. The site was created in response to the increasing pressure that local internet providers have placed on pricing in this market, and their negative effect on Rochester's economy. The Verizon name and logo and all related product and service names, design marks, and slogans are trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks of Verizon and may not be used in any manner without the prior written consent of Verizon. All other product and service marks are trademarks of their respective owners.

Home :: TWC Protests :: CAP Info :: FiOS Videos :: Blog :: Petition :: Press