Uhuh, dont even get me started on DirecPC's FAP debacle. The satellite Broadband folks have a helluva time with controlling "abusers" while keeping the shared pipe unclogged, I should know, I am one. jm On Friday, February 1, 2002, at 08:59 AM, Jim Shankland wrote:
David Charlap <David.Charlap@marconi.com> writes:
It's nothing short of hubris (on the part of both Microsoft and the ISPs) to assume that nobody ever uses a computer for more than web surfing.
When TCI cable was first rolling out high-speed Internet access in the Bay Area, they at one point without notice throttled download speeds to 128 Kb/s per customer in Fremont. Customers hit the ceiling, and the matter boiled over into a community meeting, where TCI explained with a straight face that this step was necessary because customers were "abusing" the network -- they were using it to do things like *work from home*! The collective response from attendees might be paraphrased as "well, duh!" TCI had to relent on this issue; but the episode is telling as to the mindset, I think.
This also brings to mind John Perry Barlow's comment that "when these people think interactive video means putting a 'buy this' button on your remote control".
Jim Shankland