approval from:
ltt75 
| Letter to US and State representatives Here is a copy of the letter that I sent to my U.S. and state representatives:
Dear Representative Baldwin,
I am writing to ask for your help. I currently have Charter Cable Internet Service. I currently enjoy my internet service for watching TV, You Tube Videos, online multimedia and to work from home. My family also uses similar services.
Charter has recently stated they will be implementing monthly data usage CAPS of 100GB of data per month. I currently pay $39.99 per month for my internet service. This new cap is very punitive for our family. I would like you to look into legislation that would make artificial caps illegal.
President Obama has stated that our country needs to expand the availability of broadband service to more Americans to help get our economy moving again. Charter's usage caps serve only to deter people from using emerging video and multimedia services such as Netflix, Apple TV and others. Charter's usage CAPS are self serving as Charter also sells video services via their cable TV offerings which are not subject to any caps. The move to CAP data usage is an unfair business practice that stifles access to alternative media sources.
The average Netflix HD video is between 4-6 GB per 2 hour movie. This would mean I would be limited to 20-25 movies per month before I would reach the Charter imposed cap. With multiple family members who use computers in my household (My three older children, myself and my wife) that would mean we would only be able to watch 4-5 movies each per month. This does not include ANY other activity on the internet.
To put it another way, at 4-5GB per movie the cost just to Charter to is $1.60 to $2 per movie. Netflix must also be paid for their service. This brings the price per movie close to $3-$4 each. Not surprisingly this is very close to what Charter charges for a pay per movie. At this price it is now cheaper to rent a movie from Blockbuster video or another video rental store.
So you now begin to see that the data caps are not about managing Charter's network, but is directly targeted at killing or stifling competition to Charter's services.
As technology becomes more advanced and more services are available from the internet that require significant amounts of bandwidth, we need common sense legislation that prevents incumbent providers from stifling innovation and expansion of the economy.
I urge you to look into this matter. I suggest an amendment to the stimulus bill. This amendment could bar internet providers who accept federal dollars, use public rights of way or eminent domain from imposing any type of artificial usage cap.
The United States needs to lead the world in new technology and emerging internet technologies. We need to encourage expansion of our economy through new broadband internet services. We don't need artificial caps that stifle innovation and economic development.
Sincerely,
Matthew Becker |
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