The outrageous prices of internet!!!

[jonwessel]

Cable in my area is about 45 dollars, DSL is like 40, and AOL is about 24!!! When will these prices drop??? Right now I have a cable connection, 4 port modem with a WAP, which my aunts laptop downstairs hogs some connection, 2 of the 4 ports are being used, but 1 of them is on my ps2, and obviously isn't used when i'm not playing online games. I can't believe AOL still exists, and is still charging 24 dollars a month for about 1kbps p2p network downloads, and about 3kbps FTP downloads. That is a joke, IMO AOL should charge 8 dollars a month, and cable/dsl should charge 30 dollars a month. I would put forth 45 a month (my parents paying right now) for cable if i knew that some of that money was going forth for research on how to better improve my internet stability and speed, but i think that all of it goes to the worker's pay. Like i think reasonable expectations would be for 45 dollars a month for cable internet, i should be able to download a 1GB file from lets say fileplanet, or fileshack, with nothing else going on, on my computer, and not sharing connections with other networked computers, i should be able to DL that 1gb file in about 5 minutes.

[SniperXX]

My cable bill for internet has acuallt been RISING! I started with a plain $40 a month (no promotion, normal price). It has been creeping up but its like $50 or so right now. Plus they lowered our download cap from 3mbps to 1.5mbps! Ugh. Been with them for 3 yrs and its going downhill.

[Syx]

With aol you're paying for the horrible software, and also the fact that everyone that uses them happen to be uninformed about technology.

[XWRed1]

Stop whining. Bandwidth costs money.

[upstreamcurrent]

The aol users are also paying for everyone that's using free AOL. Have any of you tried to cancel your AOL subscription? It's next to impossible. They just keep giving you more free time. Who pays? The people paying $24/month.

[Frodo Baggins]

My parents are too cheap (or don't think the Internet is important enough) to get me cable or DSL (so our phone lines get busy ALL the time). We have dial up service for <$5 a month, unlimited

[Bios24]

Sounds about right. I pay $40 for 3mb/256kb cable without renting a modem. You gotta pay to play. And isn't DSL always running that special where it's $24.95 a month for the first year? That's a great deal. Prices are totally dependent on supply and demand. Location also plays a big factor.

oh- and don't even mention AOL in the same sentance as Cable/DSL. :)

[nahmus]

With aol you're paying for the horrible software, and also the fact that everyone that uses them happen to be uninformed about technology.

AOL, the trailer park of the internet.....

actually I apologize, I did not mean to insult people that live in trailor parks that way. sorry

[skahtul]

The real kicker? It is going to get worse. There are already conutries that don't have "monthly" charges, but they charge on a "per packet" price plan, and the US government is looking into this. The internet is very expensive to run. It is more complicated than most people will ever know. If you ever had the chance to look at the "backbone" of the internet for an entire state, you could appreciate how much it costs. But, yeah the price does suck. Mine would be $57 (US) for cable, but since I have Cable TV also, I "only" pay $47. But the service can't be beat.

My 2 cents.

Also as a side note, with all of the Voice over IP, the government/phone companies are looking into ways of charging for that also. They say that you are "taking" money away from the long distance carriers?? :eek:

[skahtul]

Cable in my area is about 45 dollars, DSL is like 40, and AOL is about 24!!! When will these prices drop???

:D That will NEVER happen. Does your cell phone bill go down every year? Does your Cable/Satalite TV bill get cheaper every month? Does water cost less now then it did 10 years ago? How about the power bill?

[dead_man311]

My cable started at $59.99 for 1.5mb / 256 , now its a 3mb / 256 for $39.99

[XWRed1]

they charge on a "per packet" price plan, and the US government is looking into this.

Umm... why would the US government look into this? It would be stupid. And they don't run the Internet.

[tfr2087]

Umm... why would the US government look into this? It would be stupid. And they don't run the Internet.

lol

[Blackmage]

in america aol sucks but it not bad in uk its on of the better isps over here with no bandwith limit... most have limits which suck... but there are some underground isps such as bull dog 4megs £29.99 a month

[Shazbot]

The real kicker? It is going to get worse. There are already conutries that don't have "monthly" charges, but they charge on a "per packet" price plan, and the US government is looking into this.



While there are some ISPs that offer transport or access pricing plans based on bandwidth used, the US federal government doesn’t get involved (if you’ve seen something indicating they might, could you post the link here?). The burden on ISPs to track per packet / per user access and setup billing around it make it a non-starter. Companies like Comcast, Verizon, SBC, Time-Warner, and Cisco would fight tooth and nail against it, and that’s some serious lobbying power. Not to mention every company involved in e-commerce having a fit as well. :-)



Also as a side note, with all of the Voice over IP, the government/phone companies are looking into ways of charging for that also. They say that you are "taking" money away from the long distance carriers??


There is some truth to the government looking into charges for VoIP, but that’s more about the existing taxes and tarrifs on “traditional” phone service also being applied to VoIP service. In the end expect to see *something* charged to interstate VoIP service at least, and probably a local charge for things like 911. It also has to do with the way phone companies are regulated and whether VoIP phone service is / should / can-be regulated the same way.

[nahmus]

I think in the next year or so (depending on where you live) you are going to start seeing IP over powerlines. I've installed 3 IPoP home networks and it is pretty cool. I know in the midwest they are in trials already. Once this hits it will finally give home users another choice. IPoP will be (from what I've read) as fast as cable access is now. This should force cable to drop prices to compete because we all have power.. thats a bigger installed base than cable!

then we all know whats comming after that... Voice over power. then things REALLY get confusing.

As an example, I just returned from scotland where my uncle works for BT (english version of ATT) Over there all the utilities are into each others business. Brittish Gas has more internet subscribers and BT! BT sells electricity! and vice versa.

Its gonna be interesting!

[skahtul]

Its gonna be interesting!

That about sums it up.

[skahtul]

Umm... why would the US government look into this? It would be stupid. And they don't run the Internet.



Valid point. You are right; phone companies "run" the Internet. Cut the phone cable, no net. (well not really since most long distances are covered my microwave towers/satellites but you get the point). Who helps to regulate the phone companies? Do you know what the DOD model is? Then you know where the OSI model came from (kind of). If you don't think that the US Government is involved in the internet, then you are blind. Do you know what ARPA Net is? How about DARPA? The us government is where the internet came from my friend.
Sorry to be off topic. This should be in another thread. Thanks.


I have seen some things, like Verizon starting to install "fiber optics" into neighborhoods in Texas. Hopefully with the competing technologies/companies the prices will go down.

[skahtul]

Like i think reasonable expectations would be for 45 dollars a month for cable internet, i should be able to download a 1GB file from lets say fileplanet, or fileshack, with nothing else going on, on my computer, and not sharing connections with other networked computers, i should be able to DL that 1gb file in about 5 minutes.

What makes you think you think you could download something that fast for that less of money? Do you even realize how fast that is? What is reasonable about it? You think they should just start installing fiber all over the place? And even if they did, the make up of a Cable Internet connection would make "dedicated" speeds very difficult. Remember, you are sharing that connection with your neighbor, and his neighbor, and his neighbor...

Just asking.

[XWRed1]

Valid point. You are right; phone companies "run" the Internet. Cut the phone cable, no net. (well not really since most long distances are covered my microwave towers/satellites but you get the point). Who helps to regulate the phone companies? Do you know what the DOD model is? Then you know where the OSI model came from (kind of). If you don't think that the US Government is involved in the internet, then you are blind. Do you know what ARPA Net is? How about DARPA? The us government is where the internet came from my friend.
Sorry to be off topic. This should be in another thread. Thanks.

Look dude, I work at a phone company that is also tier 2 isp.

Just because DARPA invented the Internet doesn't mean the Internet is solely composed of government networks. It is mostly composed of large private networks. The fact that the government regulates the voice services has little impact on the data side; the companies involved might not even be doing any voice service anyway.

The government is not involved in the Internet in the way that you are suggesting.

[SysCrusher]

Also as a side note, with all of the Voice over IP, the government/phone companies are looking into ways of charging for that also. They say that you are "taking" money away from the long distance carriers?? :eek:

Well, isn't that the point? LOL I use it when ever it's possible.

What are they going to do when I finally go solar? Charge me for sunlight?

[skahtul]

Look dude, I work at a phone company that is also tier 2 isp.

Just because DARPA invented the Internet doesn't mean the Internet is solely composed of government networks. It is mostly composed of large private networks. The fact that the government regulates the voice services has little impact on the data side; the companies involved might not even be doing any voice service anyway.

The government is not involved in the Internet in the way that you are suggesting.


Well with all your knowledge working for the phone company, you should easily be able to explain why the net costs what it does. That is the main point of this thread. Thanks "dude".

BTW, I am not suggestion that the government "controls" it.

http://msnbc.msn.com/Default.aspx?id=3606168&p1=0

http://www.iht.com/articles/120570.html

I just came across these, thought someone might find them to be an interesting read.

[skahtul]

What are they going to do when I finally go solar? Charge me for sunlight?

No, as a matter of fact, if you had sufficent left over power from using solar energy, the power company has to buy that from you. :eek:

[XWRed1]

Well with all your knowledge working for the phone company, you should easily be able to explain why the net costs what it does. That is the main point of this thread. Thanks "dude".

BTW, I am not suggestion that the government "controls" it.

http://msnbc.msn.com/Default.aspx?id=3606168&p1=0

http://www.iht.com/articles/120570.html

I just came across these, thought someone might find them to be an interesting read.

I don't have to work at the phone company to tell you why it costs what it does, its just a matter of economics. Supply and demand, costs to all the middlemen. The ISPs can't just pluck a random happy price out of the sky and give it to you.

[gustav]

Like i think reasonable expectations would be for 45 dollars a month for cable internet, i should be able to download a 1GB file from lets say fileplanet, or fileshack, with nothing else going on, on my computer, and not sharing connections with other networked computers, i should be able to DL that 1gb file in about 5 minutes.

Thats nowhere near resonable! Thats 26.4 Megabit! Bandwidth is extremely expensive. That is just a fact. Upload speed costs more than download speed. Every time your downloading, someone is uploading to you. Not only that but if you use the free accounts on fileplanet or fileshack, they cap your download at 100kbps.

[Capt Fiero]

I think it is just how your rules are in the states. Taxes and such.
I am in British Columbia Canada. I am on a cable internet connection.

5mb down / 1.5mb up I pay CDN Funds $49, that is about $34 in US Funds. They have a "Lite Speed" option that is cable internet but you only get like 1mb down and .25 up, for 24.99 CDN, about $18 USD. DSL is cheaper but not as fast.

Copied from Shaws website, note all prices are in CDN funds.

Here is what I get

Shaw High-Speed Internet customers can now experience a true fasten-your-seatbelt Internet service featuring amazing new speeds. High-Speed Xtreme-I is perfect for those who regularly download large files, visit media-intensive websites or play online games. Other features include:

5 Mb download speed*
1 Mb upload speed*
Shaw Email Filter for managing junk email
7 personal email address and 10 MB webspace per email address
2 IP Addresses
Secure and reliable access
Always On connection
24/7/365 technical support & service calls included
Webmail - global access to email
Access to Shaw's customizable home page start.shaw.ca
Constant network performance monitoring
Currently Shaw High-Speed Xtreme-I is available only in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Victoria and Saskatoon and is an add-on service for existing and new Shaw High-Speed Internet customers.

Pricing (add on to existing Shaw Internet Bundle price)

Shaw High-Speed Internet only $15.00
Shaw High-Speed Internet and Cable Bundle $10.00
Shaw High Speed Internet and Digital Bundle $10.00
SOHO Internet $10.00
Professional Internet $20.00
Business Internet $40.00


Shaw High-Speed Xtreme-I requires a Docsis modem - visit your local Shaw Retail store or call 1-888-472-2222 for more information.

* We have accomplished this speed increase by accelerating the modem speed to 5 megabits downstream and 1 megabit upstream with new low latency cable modem technology. Cable modem speeds and real life Internet speeds may vary depending upon sites visited or activity on the public Internet.

[SniperXX]

I am curious as to how Verizons new thing with fiber is gonna affect cables prices and same for DSL. I see a pretty big price war that may be on the way if Verizon can get that access to areas where ppl can only get cable so cable has an advantage right now. I am in one of those areas where the only good high speed internet is cable and Adelphia knows it and takes advantage of it. If they ever get that Verizon out here I will switch soo fast. :D

[dark_15]

What are they going to do when I finally go solar? Charge me for sunlight?

In some places the city governments tax you for the rainwater that falls on your lawn...

nahmus - I hear that IPoP is actually causing headaches for EMT's and such because the frequencies from the networks are messing up communications for police, fire, EMT's, etc.

[BGPatterson]

I have paid $40.16 can. for shaw cable for the past two years. My IP rarely changes and i do not have a static IP

[Shazbot]

I am curious as to how Verizons new thing with fiber is gonna affect cables prices and same for DSL. I see a pretty big price war that may be on the way if Verizon can get that access to areas where ppl can only get cable so cable has an advantage right now. I am in one of those areas where the only good high speed internet is cable and Adelphia knows it and takes advantage of it. If they ever get that Verizon out here I will switch soo fast.

IMHO, Verizon’s fiber plan is aimed at offering very high bandwidth at a price comparable to cable. The idea is to offer both a highish end (fiber) and a lowish end (dsl) solution and dominate the market. The fiber also gives them options for offering cable-TV like services if/when the restrictions are lifted. Then you’ll see a brawl between Comcast and Verizon. :-)

Somewhere along the way the telcos may upgrade their DSL infrastructure to reach beyond the 21k line feet limitation and offer a better DSL footprint, but I honestly don’t think they’ll make that investment until they run out of new subscribers.

[skahtul]

I don't have to work at the phone company to tell you why it costs what it does, its just a matter of economics. Supply and demand, costs to all the middlemen. The ISPs can't just pluck a random happy price out of the sky and give it to you.

That is very true. I don't think people can really appreciate how complex the whole thing is. Supply and demand plus very expensive/complicated technology.

Found this in an article, don't know how true it is or not.

"Verizon plans to spend $800 million in 2004 on fiber projects in some of the 30 states it serves, rewiring every street in each town selected. About 100,000 New Jersey customers were being considered for the service."

Also it looks as though they are going to implement FTTP (fiber to the premises). I thought they would only bring it to the "curb" or the "neighborhood" then use coax from there. Can't wait for this to become widely available.

[CordialSpam]

I pay $50 a month for my earthlink DSL in my area, 1.5m/764kbps speed -_- I dl at 150kb/sec -_-

[Snipester]

45$ canadian for Rogers Extreme 5m/800kbps

[trinketsummoner]

http://www22.verizon.com/ForYourHome/Fios/packagePrice.asp

15MBPS $49.99 :drool:

30MBPS $199.99 :burn:

I use Armstrong cable here - 3MBPS down, 256k up for $39.99 a month with the usual free emails, web hosting etc.

[avzay]

i got comcast cable around here
$55 a month...but connection has been excellent

[idunno246]

At least you dont get charged for bandwidth...my school charges for anything over 2gb...so far this forum is the biggest offender, excluding napster(2,0). And pings suck...terribly

[SimGuy]

$77.95 CDN ($60 USD) a month for Ultimate Cable TV & Rogers Extreme High-Speed Internet (5000/800). (There are extra fees for my digital cable terminals & wireless accounts, but $77.95 CDN is the base internet & cable charge each month).

Sure, I had to shell out $100 CDN for the modem, but I own it and don't pay any rental fees.

Quite frankly, I don't consider that expensive at all and gladly pay it. I remember when unlimited V90 56K Dialup was $30.00 CDN a month with a $55.00 CDN monthly cable bill. So in essence, by combining services, I get faster speeds for a cheaper monthly rate.