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I disagree, even if customers would not flip out. Charging per bit is an incorrect alignment to consumption of a finite resource (such as water, gas, or even e

I disagree, even if customers would not flip out. Charging per bit is an incorrect alignment to consumption of a finite resource (such as water, gas, or even electric). Data is not a finite resource, as receiving data does not deplete the source providing the data. The only sane way to charge for connectivity is to charge for operations and support, with a profit percentage.

late2part 11y ago
Commercial electricity is charged a lower rate at off-peak hours in many markets.
harryh 11y ago
Any given network can transmit only so many bits per second. That bandwidth is, in fact, a finite resource.
- wtallis 11y ago
  But if you're operating below that limit, the marginal cost is zero.
  - harryh 11y ago
    Of course. That's exactly the justification for charging more during congestion periods. That's when you're operating close to the limit.
    - nitrogen 11y ago
      Don't charge more, just provide less. Provide a proportional share of the bandwidth that is available.
      - harryh 11y ago
        So people who want more bandwidth are just SOL?
      - crazy1van 11y ago
        The point of charging more during peak times is to discourage usage during those times, which leads to a greater proportion of available bandwidth per user at that time.