Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Bandwidth should be metered

Bandwidth should be metered and sold like electricity. Folks should only be required to pay for what they use. That way, the market takes care of the congestion problems and network neutrality becomes a moot point. Consider for a moment if electricity was priced like internet access, at a flat monthly rate. Essentially those conserving electricity would be subsidizing the wasteful neighbor who leaves all their lights on all the time. That's whats happening today with bandwidth consumption.

While we're at it, highway and street usage should be transacted the same way. Let's start charging drivers by the mile (or kilometer). Right now the roads are essentially free and nobody has an incentive to ride a bicycle or take the train (or walk). Requiring folks to pay for what they use would not only reduce congestion but pollution as well.