pfsmith
join:2006-11-16
Lafayette, IN
1 edit | This problem is easily solved, once it is fully understood.. The problem here is one of externalities. See:
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externality
In a nutshell, the people that hog the pipe (BT users, in this particular case) aren't realizing the full economic costs of their usage. That is, there are unrealized externalities that are being born by the general public (not unlike air pollution from a factory, for example).
It would be VERY SIMPLE if the ISP would associate the costs of those externalities with THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT CREATE THEM. This would be the correct signal to send the typical BT user and LET THEM DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO PAY THE COST OF THEIR ECONOMIC CHOICES.
This could be achieved in many ways - different tiers of services, including *explicit* bandwidth limits - let the customer choose what is ENOUGH Internet for their needs. Or, even full 'pay for what you use' type billing (like the power company).
It really is that simple, and the ISPs should get a clue and put some thought into why their customers behave the way they do... it is MOSTLY because that is the economic signal they're being sent and therefor their behavior is really quite rational. Give the average customer the information they are lacking (ie. the *real* cost of their BT use) and LET THEM DECIDE. Then charge them accordingly, and provide the necessary network according to what the customer is paying for.
And, note also that this solution CORRECTLY ignores the thorny (and irrelavent) issues like copyright and legit/non-legit usage of a particular technology. These things should NOT be decided by the ISP... they really DON'T want to take responsibility for what kind of traffic is on their network since they are more likely than not to get it wrong.
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| AH NO....
incase you didn't get it first time...NO!
let me repeat just to be sure....NOOOO!
The ISPs should face the fact that they need to have networks that can reasonably support whatever intended use the customer has for them. They need to expect that some percentage, be it large or small of the customers are going to desire to use the connection they have been given at its maximum capacity pretty much all the time. |
