Topic: Data Caps

A host recounts a $500-600 Verizon bill incurred while streaming video during a camping trip, highlighting the high cost of data overages compared to T-Mobile's unlimited plans. The discussion also covers a recent experience with a third-party iPhone screen repair service, which resulted in a "counterfeit" quality screen. An anecdote about dropping an original iPhone into a toilet in the UK is shared as a cautionary tale.

The FCC document quotes Benjamin Franklin to justify its "catch-all standard" against ISP gatekeepers. The hosts predict that these regulations will lead to metered internet usage and data caps, ultimately making the internet more expensive for consumers. They also anticipate years of litigation from the mobile industry, which argues that the FCC's "tailoring" of Title II regulations is an illegal overreach of its authority.

T-Mobile has unveiled its Unradio service, which allows users to stream music from specific services like Pandora without it counting against their data caps. This practice raises significant net neutrality concerns, as independent content like the No Agenda show still counts toward data limits. The tech press is criticized for fawning over the "free" data rather than addressing the discriminatory nature of the service.

A listener reports that Suddenlink has implemented a pricing model based on data caps, charging $10 for every 50 gigabytes over the limit. The hosts argue this is a fair way to manage network saturation caused by high-definition streaming. They predict that the transition to 4K streaming will eventually force all users to accept paid priority to maintain service quality.

Comcast's CEO predicts that usage-based billing will be rolled out across the company's footprint within five years. The model involves setting a high "basic level" of usage (e.g., 300-500 GB) and charging for additional "buckets" of data. The hosts argue that this is the inevitable result of net neutrality regulation, as ISPs seek to recoup costs from heavy users like Netflix while maintaining high profit margins.

In a forward-looking statement, Brian Roberts predicts that Comcast will have a "usage-based billing model" rolled out across its entire footprint within five years. He describes pilot programs where users get a base "bucket" of data (e.g., 300GB) and pay for additional increments. Adam highlights this as the "smoking gun" of what the Net Neutrality debate is actually facilitating.

A technical issue within Apple's iOS 5 and iTunes is identified where podcasts are reportedly downloading ten times, potentially exhausting user data plans. The show has transitioned its MP3 hosting to producer-run infrastructure to better monitor these anomalies. This glitch results in a 100MB show consuming a full gigabyte of data for mobile users.

The hosts discuss the technical requirements for running a Slingbox, including the impact on monthly data caps. While Comcast has a 250 gigabyte monthly limit, heavy Slingbox usage can consume up to two gigabytes per day. Adam Curry plans to set up a dedicated Slingbox on a Virgin Media connection in the UK for remote access.

A discussion regarding UK mobile data services focuses on Vodafone's transition from hardware dongles to USB sticks offering 7.5 megabits down. The conversation highlights the high cost of international roaming and the frustration with "fair use" limits that restrict users to small monthly data allowances.