Time Warner Cable scraps broadband capping plan in Rochester, NY
By Donald Melanson 
posted April 16th 2009 3:22PM
posted April 16th 2009 3:22PM
It's already delayed its controversial broadband capping plan in a number of markets, and it looks like Time Warner Cable has now gone one big step further in Rochester, New York (one of the initial test markets), where it has reportedly scrapped the new tiered pricing plan altogether. As you no doubt recall, the plan was more or less modeled on cellphone pricing plans, and had intended to cap customers' data usage at a certain level and charge upwards of $1 per GB for any overages (eventually maxing out at $150 per month). That, naturally, didn't go over so well with folks, and even New York Senator Charles Schumer eventually got in on the act and complained directly to Time Warner Cable. Of course, this still doesn't officially mark the end of the pricing plan in other markets, but it certainly seems to be getting increasingly difficult for Time Warner Cable to move ahead with it.[Thanks, Phil]
Update: As a few of you have helpfully pointed out in comments, Time Warner Cable has now put out a statement of its own that confirms in not-at-all Orwellian terms that it is shelving all of its consumption-based billing trials "while the customer education process continues." The company also says that it'll soon be making bandwidth measurement tools available to customers, which it hopes will "aid in the dialog going forward."
What?......
I wrote a letter to Time Warner blasting them for these so called caps. I call it protectionism.
We have paid many billions of dollars to upgrade our internet infrastructure and we should be allowed to use it without limits. Example we built up our highway infrastructure over decades costing us billions. Now imagine putting roadblocks at your city limit. You would be furious because you paid for the infrastructure and the city has benefited from it. The same is true with the internet it was built as infrastructure and by adding caps you put up roadblocks that limit innovation and stifle growth. Now I agree on paying for the speed. The speed is like the gas, the infrastructure is always available but you need to put gas in the car so you can use the roads. The analogy works for explaining the problem with caps. Charge for speed but the internet (highway infrastructure) should be open and free no caps (roadblocks).
Time Warner clearly hates Hulu, Joost, Sling, Tv.com, and Crackle. It cuts into their core business. But instead of penalizing consumers they should create a new business model where they can make money by getting people to buy into their service. Example, offering higher speeds. Charge for speed just don't put caps on bandwidth.
However. I don't watch TV everyday. I do keep record my DVR show different channel cuz I'm not home. I do watch video hd online than tv. hulu is better than TV. maybe hulu.com can change new upgrade huluHD.com? yeah yeah everybody addict to internet online/pr0n/fastest speed/download better than TV. Then we have to strike against online/fastest speed/access network free right now, yes we can!...
I would be useful if the broadband companies would allow you to see your monthly bandwidth usage, just like your cellphone provider (at least Verizon) shows your airtime usage.
It's possible that a broadband customer, who uses their connection infrequently, might benefit from a tiered pricing policy.
I feel bad for our friends on the other side of the pond they deal with bandwidth capping hopefully that will change in the future for them
Makes me glad Cablevision has kept that sham of a company off of Long Island.
Big sigh of relief in Rochester... for now.
Score 1 for the good guys.
Still waiting for Comcast's gadget. I have to be close if not breaking 350GB with my family (I torrent, my wife streams, the kids YouTube, download and torrent).
now if only frontier would die so Verizon could legally compete in Rochester
and Chuck Schumer will deff get my vote again
"Hello Mr. Hackett we see youve used 2398579875 gb this month........ Would you like to join one of our tests on capping your data usage? The overages will only cost you nearly twice the amount you pay a month."