The Internet. Like, the whole thing.

In any given day I would bet I spend about 12 hours online (weekends included).  Just typing that I feel like I have taken the first step in addressing an addiction.

Like any good addict I like to know as much as I can about my “fix”.   That’s why I love reading about fiber optics and complaining about Time Warner Cable, they are components that shape my daily routine.

There is a very important discussion going on regarding the laws to govern the use of my drug in the US right now.  You can read more about it on The Huffington Post.

On one side are the broadband providers who want to control what sites you can access and how much you can access from those sites at any given time to be fair to everyone else using that same bandwidth (and they have a solid point).

On the other side are the content providers online who don’t want the broadband providers blocking access to their content because the provider feels it takes up too much bandwidth (they feel that the providers will favor sites they are connected to as opposed to providing equal access, so they have a solid point also).

I have a solution - and it is that the broadband providers’ responsibility to bring it to life.  Now, let me walk you through this.

I get an electric bill every month based on how much I use.  I get a gas bill every month based on how much I use.  I get a water bill every month based on how much I use.  Those things all make sense to me.

Recently, airlines started charging travelers based on the things they use - checked luggage, food, drinks… all of those things make sense to me (and it’s about time).

Broadband providers are who they are because they already had the infrastructure to provide access - and they operate in a different way than the above mentioned industries.

Phone companies, one of 2 major broadband providing industries, are confused - land lines are flat rates based on the types of services you want and mobile lines are (generally) a hybrid of flat rates and per use charges.

Cable television companies, the broadband provider Dee to the phone companies Dum, bill in the same fashion as phone companies with their traditional land lines, you pay per connection and for each premium service, but not based on actual usage.

Solution.

Pay as you go.  I use a lot of the bandwidth and you shouldn’t have to pay for it.  Both the broadband and content providers are happy.  John McCain can get back to doing other things.