TelstraClear serves New Zealand

Some broadband customers in New Zealand are treating their monthly usage allowances as usage targets, dedicated to ringing every last penny of value out of the Internet Overcharging schemes.  That means bandwidth usage increases just because customers don’t want to leave their remaining allowance on the table at the start of a new month.

PC World New Zealand notes “caps are essentially stupid” because your allowance resets at the end of every billing cycle:

If I’m away for a month and use zero bytes, it costs just the same as if I’d used my full 20GB. This wouldn’t be so galling if some allowance were made for under-utilising my capacity. It doesn’t have to be a 1:1 thing or roll over from month to month, but some concession would be nice. Perhaps a 1:2 ratio that must be used within the next billing period; in this case an allowance to go up to 30GB in the next month seems reasonable.

That would also get around the other irritating thing about data caps, the punitive charges if you go a single byte over your limit. In the case of TelstraClear it’s $2.95 per GB or part thereof.

TelstraClear - The Internet. Overcharged.

Readers shared their two cents:

I have a 40GB cap which I regularly go over. Telscum charge $20/Gb so it hurts like hell. I tried [switching] to TelstraClear but after three months all I had from them was a bill for services I didn’t receive.

We have 20Gb shared between the three of us and it is rare to go over but we do try like you to use it all up simply because we have paid for it. There is a company in NZ that allows you to roll it over it is Trust power Kinect. A friend uses them and roughly every three months he reckons he can save a month. You do need to have your power and phone with them though and for us it would actually work out more expensive but for others it might not. I do think caps suck though and wish they could be scrapped as I think we would actually use less bandwidth.

I think this part of the world and UK is an exception when it comes to data caps. In Europe data caps are very rare (except in UK which is not typical for Europe in any aspects). Being from Sweden I was a bit surprised moving to NZ and discovered data caps as well as very slow and expensive Internet. Sweden is similar to NZ (e.g. size, population) so it’s a fair comparison. You are being ripped off!

Jackson

A Tennessee state senator has introduced a bill that would fine the state’s cable companies for running racy television advertising on its cable channels.

Dubbed the “Girls Gone Wild Bill,” the legislation would hopefully curb cable operators’ willingness to run suggestive advertising, according to the bill’s author Sen. Doug Jackson (D-Dickson).

This isn’t the first go around for Jackson’s bill, having failed to pass during the last two legislative sessions.  But Jackson believes the third time is a charm, passing a vote in the Senate Commerce Committee 8-0, with one member abstaining.

The Tennessean talked with Jackson to learn why the bill was necessary:

Jackson has said he got the idea for the proposal after seeing partially censored commercials for “Girls Gone Wild” videos that show young women disrobing and acting out other sexual situations.

“They’re provocative and shocking to a lot of families trying to raise children,” Jackson said.

The bill would make any television advertisements considered “obscene” to be illegal. Obscenity, Jackson said, is not protected by the First Amendment. Under common law, it is established by community standards, and in Tennessee, each judicial district can establish for themselves what is considered obscene.

“A jury in Dickson County could determine the videos being sold are obscene, which makes it an illegal product,” he said.

The legislation has gotten Jackson plenty of attention across the state, as Tennessee media covered the unusual legislation.  But some fear Tennessee could become a laughing stock over bills like these.

Columnist Gail Kerr, also writing for the Tennessean, called the mad rush of oddball legislation a bunch of  “crazy crap”:

You can sure tell the Tennessee General Assembly doesn’t have any money to spend this year.

After a slam dunk, fast special session on education, our esteemed lawmakers have returned to their usual bad habits.

They have filed legislation that would kill Nashville’s honky tonks, debated whether to outlaw putting electronic chips in people and whether to amend the state constitution to assure you the right to catch a catfish.

Sen. Doug Jackson wants a constitutional amendment to assure every Tennessean has the right to hunt and fish. No one is trying to stop you from hunting and fishing. Jackson also is bringing back his “Girls Gone Wild” legislation, aimed at stopping the late night television commercials promoting the raunchy videos. He was inspired by watching the commercials.

One thing’s for sure, state law prevents these folks from taking campaign donations while in session. With two of them running for governor, one running for Congress and a slew up for re-election, they’ll start getting eager to adjourn pretty quick. It cannot happen too soon.

[flv]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WKRN Nashville Girls Gone Wild Bill 02-09-2010.flv[/flv]

WKRN-TV in Nashville reports Sen. Doug Jackson’s bill would allow communities to define certain ads on cable television obscene and have them pulled off the air.  (1 minute)

[flv width=”480″ height=”380″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WSMV Nashville Senator-Companies Liable For Obscene Ads 2-9-2010.flv[/flv]

Some members of the Tennessee Legislature believe the state’s cable companies should not be taking money from companies peddling smut, as WSMV-TV Nashville reports. (2 minutes)

Protesting adult programming on cable and satellite television is a long-standing tradition in Tennessee.  Some elected officials even dislike the prospect of MTV running on state cable systems.  But most agree lawmakers have the biggest problem with cable’s dirty little secret — extremely explicit adult programming aired on pay per view channels.  Most cable systems don’t go out of their way to promote this type of programming, but viewers learn it is there when skimming electronic program guides.  Most adult movies have titles that leave little doubt what they offer viewers willing to purchase it, and plenty do — it’s very profitable for most cable operators.

[flv width=”480″ height=”292″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WDEF Chattanooga Fowler Objects To EPB Content 11-02-09.flv[/flv]

David Fowler, a former state senator from Signal Mountain, last November denounced EPB, Chattanooga’s city-owned fiber television and broadband provider, for allowing adult programming on the lineup in the first place. (WDEF-TV Chattanooga) (11/2/2009 – 1 minute)

El Paso, Texas

More than 14,000 residents of El Paso are under investigation for potential cable theft.  That remarkable number comes from El Paso, Texas TV station KFOX-TV.  Reporter Martina Valverde notes that Time Warner Cable is now engaged in a city-wide system audit to identify and disconnect illegitimate cable connections.

“Our paying customers who rely on us for phone service, video service, and Internet service,” Gary Underwood, vice president of communications for Time Warner’s Texas operation told KFOX viewers. “They might not be able to access those services when they most need them because the damage that was caused further down the line.”

The company told KFOX when it discovers an illegal connection, it makes two attempts to convert the customer to legitimate service.  On the third attempt, local law enforcement becomes involved.  Those found guilty face fines of $500.

“We have what’s called a tab audit team. They go out and they look at different areas to see. We have a system of tagging and flagging on these lines to so our folks can identify an authorized versus unauthorized connection,” Underwood said.

Cable theft is not just a problem in El Paso.  Some brazen entrepreneurs go further, pretending to represent providers willing to hook customers up for a one time, flat fee they pocket.

Grande Communications faced one such individual, who last summer slapped a magnetic sign with Grande’s logo on his truck and pitched cable service to apartment complexes and homes around San Marcos, Texas.

Unwitting customers who signed up for the deal were offered special discounts by Grande when their illegal cable connection was discovered.

[flv width=”640″ height=”500″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/KFOX El Paso Time Warner Cable Cracks Down On Illegal Taps 2-17-2010.flv[/flv]

KFOX-TV in El Paso, Texas ran this report last night claiming more than 14,000 residents were under investigation for cable theft in the community. (1 minute)

[flv width=”480″ height=”380″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/KXAN Austin Fake Cable Guy Selling Cable 7-24-09.flv[/flv]

Last summer, Grande Communications had to contend with someone illegally hooking up customers around San Marcos, Texas. KXAN-TV in Austin ran this report July 24th. (2 minutes)

America’s established cable and telephone companies are pulling out every stop to impede the Obama Administration’s broadband stimulus program.

Comcast alone, the nation’s largest cable company, has filed thousands of objections to proposed broadband projects in communities large and small, claiming those projects have the potential of introducing competition in their service areas, whether or not actual broadband service is being provided to residents in those communities.

Most large providers like Time Warner Cable, Comcast, and many national phone companies have steered clear of applying for broadband stimulus money.  They don’t like requirements that could force them to adhere to Net Neutrality provisions, sharing equal access to their networks.  But they don’t want anyone else on their turf getting funding either, and they’re spending enormous amounts of time and money objecting to anything and everything that seeks funding in their respective service areas.

It’s nothing short of a Broadband Blockade, and it is dramatically slowing the government’s ability to pour over thousands of applications.

Settles

Dan Hays, from consulting firm PRTM, told USA Today as a result of the delays, there’s significant doubt as to whether the monies can be awarded before the end of September when the funding authorization expires.

Could that be part of the plan all along?

“They aren’t leading, they aren’t following, and they won’t get out of the way,” said Craig Settles, a municipal broadband expert. “They’re not going to put proposals on the table because they don’t like the rules. Yet they’re not going to cooperate with the entities that are going after the money.”

“There are 11,000 public comments (about the funding applications), and I’m willing to bet that 9,000, at least, were a challenge or protest of one sort or another,” says Settles.

“We’re at a point where it’s the general public’s interest vs. the entrenched incumbents,” Settles added.

When giant telecommunications providers are threatened, they run to lawmakers for special protection, and they’re getting it.

National Public Radio ran this report about the problems awarding broadband stimulus grants. (5 minutes)
You must remain on this page to hear the clip, or you can download the clip and listen later.

Coming next…

FairPoint – Bankrupt And Soaking in Failure – But Still Has Enough for Lobbyists, Attorneys to Fight Broadband Projects On Its Turf

In Maine, bankrupt FairPoint Communications managed to scrape up enough cash to launch a lobbying effort to get a bill introduced, tailor-written to prohibit stimulus award winners from… helping provide improved broadband service to Maine residents.

Marrache

Incredibly, Sen. Lisa Marrache, D-Waterville, the assistant Senate majority leader, has introduced a bill that would ban the system from using any tuition money to help pay for efforts to expand broadband access. Marrache mouthed FairPoint’s talking points as she suggested poor college students’ tuition money would be diverted for broadband projects. She claimed the bill was introduced because constituents FairPoint’s lobbyists and employees were calling her about it.

The fact Marrache so misunderstood a public-private partnership between the University of Maine, Great Works Internet, and two private investors to improve the Internet “backbone” in Maine should be of grave concern to her constituents. Unless some campaign contributions from FairPoint and its executives make their way to Marrache’s next campaign, voters must be wondering whether the majority leader has a grip on the technology matters before her.

Indeed, the University of Maine explained the “middle mile” improvement program was not going to steal students’ lunch money, but rather dramatically improve broadband capacity for all comers — something FairPoint couldn’t be bothered with while breaking promises to expand broadband service themselves.

Jeff Letourneau, associate director of information technology at UMS, told the Bangor Daily News, “as for tuition subsidizing our broadband efforts, that does not happen and will not happen.”

[flv]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WABI Bangor Federal Funding of Maine’s Rural Broadband 12-17-2009.flv[/flv]

WABI-TV in Bangor reported on the announced funding of broadband projects in Maine designed to improve rural broadband service statewide (12-17-2009 — 2 minutes)

Ironically, the network that will be built with the help of the broadband stimulus program will be open to any and all providers, including FairPoint, on a wholesale cost basis. But of course FairPoint would not own and control it, so it’s bad for them, and they’re trying to convince Maine lawmakers it’s bad for Maine residents as well.

Great Works Internet has had a running dispute with FairPoint

But then, FairPoint has had a vendetta of sorts against Great Works Internet for months, trying to overcharge the independent ISP for connectivity it obtained under provisions established in the Communications Act of 1996.

Also running interference for FairPoint is Rep. Stacey Fitts, R-Pittsfield, who serves on the Legislature’s Utilities and Energy Committee. His bill prevents any “undue” competition by UMS with existing broadband providers. In other words, he has written the FairPoint Entrenched Provider of Mediocre Broadband Protection Act. Fitts said he has concerns that the university’s efforts could have unintended consequences on private companies (read that FairPoint) that “already provide access.” It will have directly intended consequences on GWI by further disadvantaging them and potentially sinking their efforts to provide better service in Maine.

“If the university is able to bypass some of the competitive markets, and cherry pick, it could affect the ability to deliver broadband to others,” he said.

Exactly how it affects the ability of FairPoint to deliver what it has failed to demonstrate it is capable of delivering is a question Fitts doesn’t answer.

Fitts

“I know this will cause a lot of discussion in committee,” he told the newspaper. “But we need to have that discussion.”

Maine Public Radio covered the introduction of Rep. Fitts’ bill, and the debate swirling around it. (3 minutes)
You must remain on this page to hear the clip, or you can download the clip and listen later.

Constituents need to have a discussion with him. Unless he wants to be known as the representative from FairPoint, he might want to get out of the way of a project that has a chance of improving broadband in his state, as opposed to the empty promises from a bankrupt provider. If he wants to tie himself to FairPoint’s record of failure, voters can choose someone else to represent them at the earliest possible opportunity.

Those with a need for high speed broadband have tried, and failed, to obtain better service from FairPoint. As Stop the Cap! has reported in exhaustive detail, FairPoint was preoccupied in delivering third world phone service at the time, finally collapsing on the courthouse steps under the weight of its bankruptcy filing.

Bills like these in Maine are further evidence that Congress needs to act on the federal level to pass the Community Broadband Act, which would overturn these kinds of bought-and-paid-for protectionist bills passed in several states. Communities must have the right to bypass companies in the broadband shortage business.

[flv width=”352″ height=”264″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WLBZ Bangor Broadband Stimulus Will Help Maine Health Care 12-2009.flv[/flv]

WLBZ-TV in Bangor showed what broadband brings to Maine’s health care system and other business.  (3 minutes)

[flv]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/MaineBiz Broadband Special 11-2009.flv[/flv]

MaineBiz Sunday spent nearly an hour going in-depth into broadband challenges in Maine, the problems with FairPoint Communications, the dispute with GWI, and more.  Appearing on the show, which originally aired last November: Fletcher Kittredge CEO of GWI, Phil Lindley of the ConnectMaine Authority, Steve Hand of Know Technology and Rep. Cynthia Dill of District 121 in Cape Elizabeth. (36 minutes)

Coming up…

Comcast Is Allergic to the Word “Free” Except When They Are the Recipient