Neutral or not, can we at least get some clarity?
Net neutrality – the belief that all Internet traffic should be treated equally – has been much in the news of late and, while I come down on the pro-neutrality side, I can also see the argument for the counter…
Net neutrality – the belief that all Internet traffic should be treated equally – has been much in the news of late and, while I come down on the pro-neutrality side, I can also see the argument for the counter opinion. But in either case, what we as consumers really need is clarity.
The ISPs are arguing that some types of online activity – downloading video files or streaming content, for example – suck up a lot of bandwidth, and that the few who often do this are slowing down the online experience for the many. In fairness, they say, it is necessary to throttle back the bandwidth available to these users.
And if the ISPs can prove that to be true, then they may have a valid argument, but the problem is that we don’t know its validity and their reluctance to openly discuss the issue – or even, for weeks, to acknowledge its existence – has created an air of secrecy and suspicion.
This has drawn the attention of the CRTC, which asked Bell a few weeks ago to substantiate its claims. It looks like the regulatory board is about to get a lot more involved in this.
And that’s a good thing because it will bring the discussion out in the open. If it can be shown that a small percentage of bandwidth hogs are slowing the Web experience for the rest, then maybe traffic shaping has a place in our Internet. Or maybe not. But let’s at least get the facts out there. Because while it’s possible that new technology will make this problem go away, right now consumers need to know if they are paying for artificially slow broadband access.
Peter Wolchak
Backbone magazine
I pay for a high-speed connection, I don't want dial-up speeds. Bell has been putting massive profits in the bank rather than expanding their network to keep up with the expanding internet, and they've been fraudulently selling bandwidth they don't have.
Tomcat hit the nail on the head with that post.
I also pay for a high speed connection from bell…which is way overpriced for the service. Why does Bell think customers pay way so much for their crappy (for lack of a better word) service. Here is the answer; to download (legaly or ilegaly, whichever, doesn`t matter), to stream content etc.. This is essential for many small businesses. Bell is currently cooking up some scheme to “prove“ their problem to be true.
As customers who pay, we should have the final say, after all, we are tired of being ripped off. Customers should start to boycot Bell, or change their servies plans to cheaper ones. You`ll probably be getting dial up speeds anyways, so why pay more for it.
That`s the bottom line here folks, MONEY. Bell wants more, hopefully the takeover by the mutual fund company will have some good effect on the direction the company takes.
Hopefully they will develop some integrity.
I figured I would get my comment before the comments are closed as they were on the traffic shaping post.
If any ISP cannot deliver the speed they have contracted to deliver then they should give their subscribers a discount. It's one thing if the network is congested and totally something else when the ISP is limiting the bandwidth that I am paying for so that they can get their new online video store up and running.
It's also totally ridiculous when I am reading about the speeds in other countries that are reaching 100Mbps for less than we are paying here for a traffic shaped 4.5Mbps.
Especially since we are supposed to be among the most technologically advanced nations on the planer. I've been a Sympatico subscriber since DSL first became available and I am still crawling along when compared to what is available elsewhere. Sure, I could upgrade to a higher speed connection at an insane price but then I would lose my unlimited dl status. And even if I changed to another DSL provider I would still be affected by the traffic shaping that is inflicted on them by Bell.
It's a lose-lose situation. Hopefully the government will get involved and open the market up to those companies that can really offer a decent service for a decent price.
Facts:
Regulated and restricted service providers.
Advertised speeds of up to 4.5Mbps.
Customer service near non existent.
Contract with service provider and out sourced repair company shows up at your door.
Speed shaping / throttling already exists.
Needed Badly:
Unrestricted service providers and the market opened up choice by the consumer. Thus lowering prices via competition.
My HIGH SPEED never reaches more than .845MBPS. False advertising? I think so!
Call for service and go through 18 layers of options on the service provider to get the right agent ( If you are that lucky to even get that far).Then have a non branded techy show up for repairs.
Download business file of a large nature and watch the speed monitor program vary all over the place no matter what the source. Speed normally drops to half or less following 5-7 minutes of downloading.
Comment
De regulation of these services is the only way to allow the consumer to choose, lower the pricing, keep the provider honest with service advertised and get what you pay for.
As to speed throttling, if they don't have the capability to supply each and every customer a guaranteed speed, it amounts to false advertising and should be treated as such.
This certainly is a sensitive issue, and that is why I am calling for, as a minimum, more clarity and honesty from the ISPs.
I do want to point out, however, that the issues stated above are not restricted to Bell. These are industry-wide issues.
Peter
I agree that this is an industry wide problem, but here in Quebec, at least in the Montreal area, there are only two choices to choose from. Videotron cable or ADSL. No matter who you subscribe from for ADSL service you are in fact getting your service from Bell as they provide the lines to the other ISPs. And these ISPs are having their feed strangled by Bell, whether they agree to it or not. So even though it is an industry wide problem, here in Quebec it is primarily caused by Bell.
As well, the 'extra' or 'ultra' high speed plans offered by most ISPs are really a joke. The reason people want these high speeds is obviously not for simple surfing, it's for downloading. But these plans are so overpriced with such limited bandwidth that I am amazed that anyone actually is will to pay the price. Not to mention that even at this premium price you will still get your connection throttled when you are most likely to be using it.
I think that the various ISPs in this country are very fortunate that the elected politicians who run our country are so technologically inept that they are able to get away with it.
And as far as expecting some clarity and honesty from the providers is concerned, I am sure they will be at least as honest and clear as the petroleum companies are when questioned about the price of gas.
I know of this guy.. a complete dickhead, but with skills. He was purchasing a regular dsl "high speed" connection, which he was pimping out to a bunch of his friends, and they were all running multiple servers on it, doing major downloading and uploading.. constantly. Running porn and games, and god knows what else.
It caused an outage of 10 city blocks, we don't know if it was shut down, but we believe. He, the techie .. who would definitley know more than I would.. said they had to shut him down and everyone else, as he had total control over the system.
Perhaps, it is people such as this, that the companies are talking about imposing measures against?? I would hope so.
If I want internet I have to move!!
"I do want to point out, however, that the issues stated above are not restricted to Bell. These are industry-wide issues.
Peter"
Indeed, Peter, but Bell locks you into a contract that you must pay a penalty to get out of…and they are, quite possibly, the worst offenders for advertising a speed that many customers are NEVER able to enjoy. Perhaps that's a reason why "Bell/Sympatico" is used so often as an example. I have been a Bell-Sympatico subscriber for years, and during those years I have had a rude awakening with regard to the difference between the promised service and the actual service I receive. As a matter of fact, if it weren't for the penalty, I'd change my ISP in a heartbeat!!! Bell has been a huge headache ever since I first subscribed to their service. It really is pathetic, and they really are dishonest.
Also (a bit off-topic), but I can't help but wonder if Sympatico farms it's "tech-support" out to third-world countries. Every time I have tried to solve an issue with the help of their "tech-support", I feel like I'm talking to people in the Mid-East…people who know less about computers and networking than I do. I should note here that I have solved all of the problems I've had over the years myself. Bell's "tech-support" has never even come close to addressing the problem, but they never seem to run out of lame excuses.
I'm sure these are factors in the way Bell-Sympatico is being singled out here…and knowing that others share my dilemma only strengthens my argument.