Likely plan and impact

Likely plan: $29.99/month (though some might try the $15 lite-user profile)

Likely BW usage: At least 10-15GB/month, but if they expand into video or streaming audio could max that out with one movie download or a couple days of streaming audio

Online time: 1 computer at 7mb/s, capped at 10gb 3 ACTIVE hours of online time per month or 6 hours of total usage per month (assuming 1/2 the time is spent as wait time)

Cost of saver plan: $15 + $2 * 14GB of usage = $15+$28 = $43/month

Cost of lite plan: $30 + $1 * 5gb of usage = $35/month

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.

Cap usage profile

How will the cap affect this sort of user. This profile is for your "light-to-medium" internet user, living alone with only one computer to maintain.

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

Email and light browsing
Typically to stay in touch with family or work on hobbies and other online research activities.
Has one computer, and is a single person using that computer
Probably typically on a windows XP operating system, may or may not have an internet router
Does not typically have a gaming system or a high end computer

Their largest bandwidth consumption will typically be

Windows and other program updates (up to 2/3GB 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
Some light social networking possibly (Facebook, Instant messaging)

Most of this user profile will not have skype, use streaming media, watch TV online, or other high bandwidth uses on a regular basis AT THIS TIME, though they may well gravitate towards this in the future. In addition, this sort of users typically is lower income/fixed income.

They don't typically require a high-speed connection, a lower speed network connection is fine. Probably currently paying for TWC's $29.95/month package (though may be paying less as a result of incentives.

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. Speed and uptime are not critical to this type of user, and DSL may be the best solution available, without risk of exceeding caps.

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.

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