🚀 go-pugleaf

Joegivens@mail.prostar.com (Joe Givens) wrote:

>suit brought against them regarding the inability of it's users to
>gain access. The blame was pointed to their recent decision to provide
>unlimited access for a fixed fee and the onslaught of new users coming
>aboard and many users logging on and staying on, whether they are
>using the system or not. She has predicted that the unlimited use,
>fixed fee concept will come to an end. Many providers will go back to
>a per hour charge, with some even charging a per site fee.

>Now I want to know from you, if this happens, how will it affect your
>internet usage? Will you stop using the internet for whatever purpose
>you do? Will your usage even change?  Do you agree or disagree that
>unlimited access is coming to an end? 

yes

>Do you feel it should and we all should pay a per hour fee? 

yes

>Do you feel providers should "bump off"
>users that are logged on after a certain amount of time of inactivity?

yes

>Maybe even have their accounts terminated after a certain amount of
>"bump offs" after fair warning? 

No - they're paying for it;  just keep bumping...

>I am very interested in your comments and am SORRY for the amount of
>cross-posting of this. I just wanted to hear comments from around the
>net.

No problem.  As a Telecom tech, I have some idea what kind of hardware
is necessary to provide this kind of unlimited usage, and we simply do
not have it in place;  nor will we in the foreseeable future.  To keep
the internet free requires investment from avid users/providers,
comensurate with their degree of involvement - as opposed to the
government or Microsoft footing the bill, and taking control of what
we're allowed to access.  Naturally funds are limited, and users in
the end must pay a reasonable price for services.  It would help delay
the demise of unlimited service if users were a little more
responsible about using their access as required, not leaving a
connection up indefinitely.

I for one will not be impacted whatever;  I pay 9.95/mo CDN for 5.5
hours, and never have time to use it all up as it is.  I mostly
interact offline, using email and newsgroup reader (Free Agent), and
only use Netscape occasionally.