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Should We Pay for Broadband by the Byte?

Posted on September 2, 2008 by Guest Contributor

Man on computerBy announcing that it would cap residential broadband users to 250 GB in downloads per month, Comcast last week made a tacit admission that it can charge users $0.17 per gigabyte ($43/month for the service), cover its operating costs, and still make a profit. If Comcast is happy to charge these rates to its heaviest users, the people who put the biggest strain on its residential broadband infrastructure, why shouldn’t the regular users enjoy the same benefit?

Buffet. Just like broadband, but tastier. The answer is that US broadband service is akin to a Chinese Buffet – the heavier users, who scarf down everything they can, are subsidized by lighter users, who pay more in exchange for consuming orders of magnitude less. The restaurant owners (and broadband providers), who scream “you eat like killer whale!” while a miniscule percentage of their users exceed some arbitrary limit, continue to pull in the same amount from everyone, making a killing on those who don’t eat very much, or only use their broadband to email, surf the web, watch a couple of YouTube videos every day, and download a few big files every month.

For a buffet, which is generally an infrequent indulgence, the system works. But for a recurring service like broadband, there’s no sense in charging customers a fixed rate when there is such a large disparity in consumption.

So here’s my modest proposal for Comcast, and other broadband providers: make broadband equal for all users. Set a monthly account maintenance/access fee (tier it to overall connection speed, if that’s your thing), and then charge everyone for the bits they actually use. The benefit to consumers is clear: if you’re paying for what you use, most users will pay less. The benefits for providers? With the battle for broadband users heating up, and 40% of the country still using dial-up services, the cable companies and telcos have a huge opportunity to attract vast swaths of new customers to not only their broadband services, but also their TV and phone services. Played right, the revenue increase from new sign-ups (if you were a new broadband customer, what kind of pricing would you choose?) could easily offset the initial decrease in broadband income.

There’s no reason for arbitrary caps if you charge for every bit. There’s no need to drive the people who use your service more than anyone else into the arms of a competitor (if, of course, there is one). Charge people for what they use, and customers will flock. Or, keep playing these ridiculous cat and mouse games that only upset your top users, and cause you reams of bad press with all the others. It’s not that hard a choice, broadband providers. Do the right thing.

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2 thoughts on “Should We Pay for Broadband by the Byte?”

  1. wisher says:
    September 3, 2008 at 12:19 am

    One you get an unlimited flat, going back to something limited is a big problem. 250GB is so much, I don’t think I’m actually consuming too bytes in a month, but the idea of limited download is scaring 😀

    Reply
  2. bounderboy says:
    September 3, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    I am afraid i am in the same boat – i probably use 3gig average/ month and 40gig if I was going silly – the point that i had to pay per byte would make the internet much less appealing and as your previous caller said “scaring”.

    My dad uses the internet a lot but I am talking less than a gig a month and he won’t change to a new package as he is worried that losing his unlimited package would make him worried about using it.. He could save half his subscription.. its a weird human psyche but i do understand it..

    Reply

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Jeremy Toeman is a seasoned Product leader with over 20 years experience in the convergence of digital media, mobile entertainment, social entertainment, smart TV and consumer technology. Prior ventures and projects include CNET, Viggle/Dijit/Nextguide, Sling Media, VUDU, Clicker, DivX, Rovi, Mediabolic, Boxee, and many other consumer technology companies. This blog represents his personal opinion and outlook on things.

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