Although the Federal Communication Commission’s implementation of Net Neutrality has earned a largely positive response, some were concerned that the move could cause Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to reduce their infrastructure spending. For Americans still waiting for their chance for broadband access, that’s bad news.
Is the FCC to blame?
On September 9, FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai spoke at an American Enterprise Institute discussion regarding broadband infrastructure investment. According to Pai, ISP infrastructure spending fell 12 percent in the first half of 2015 compared to the first half of 2014. And Pai blames the reduction in spending directly on Net Neutrality, “It’s the FCC’s decision to capitulate to the President’s demands and impose Title II public utility regulation upon the Internet that is playing a large role.”
Why would an FCC commissioner criticize FCC policy? A five-member commission leads the FCC, and when the organization passed its Net Neutrality policy, it did so by a 3-2 vote. Pai was one of the two commissioners who voted against the measure, so his stance isn’t a reversal: he’s been against Net Neutrality from the beginning and warned of consequences including less innovation and more cost for consumers.
Pai isn’t the only person in a position of power within the government who feels this way. During a hearing titled “Common Carrier Regulation of the Internet: Investment Impacts,” , chair of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, expressed his concerns that, though ISPs may continue to invest in broadband improvements, that investment may plateau or decline over time.
Is spending bouncing back?
Some evidence suggests that infrastructure spending may be increasing, not decreasing. Time Warner Cable spent an additional 10.1 percent on infrastructure from the third quarter of 2014 to the third quarter of 2015, and AT&T’s spending was also up slightly.
Is it just politics?
It’s worth noting that FCC Commissioner Pai and Congressman Walden are Republicans, and Net Neutrality is largely popular among Democrats, including President Obama. This political divide doesn’t automatically make one side right and one side wrong, but it does explain some of the disagreement.
Is it possible that both sets of numbers are correct, and that spending was down for the first half of the year, but up overall after three quarters? Sure. If so, it may be because the FCC voted for Net Neutrality in February, but the rules didn’t go into effect until the end of June. The industry could have been watching and waiting, as AT&T said it would, to see how Net Neutrality played out before committing a significant amount of money to its infrastructure.
But as Congressman Walden pointed out, ISPs aren’t going to stop investing in infrastructure entirely. The only question is whether they would have spent even more in the absence of a Net Neutrality policy.
How’s your broadband infrastructure?
America’s broadband infrastructure as a whole is important to everyone, but what should matter most to you is what it looks like in your area. The best way to see the whole picture is to enter your ZIP code below to compare the speeds and prices of the plans available in your area. You may be able to find a faster plan, even if your overall investment in broadband goes down.
Internet is a must-have utility for most renters and homeowners, with most of the population regularly getting online. But as much as consumers rely on having fast internet access, they also want to find the best deal to keep their bills low.
(TWC) is one of the most popular internet providers, offering several affordable cable Internet plans for a variety of needs. If you’re looking for more speed than DSL but a lower price tag than a fiber-optic connection, read on to learn more about TWC’s inexpensive internet options.
What Is TWC’s cheapest package?
Cable Internet from TWC starts at just $14.99 per month for speeds up to 2 Mbps. 2 Mbps is sufficient for light internet use, including web browsing, emailing and minimal music streaming. This speed will take significantly longer to handle large file transfers, video streams, or online gaming.
Will the cheapest package work for me?
If you only use the internet sparingly, the cheapest internet package may suffice. However, it’s not the best option for all consumers. If you’ve recently cut the cord, for example, you won’t be able to enjoy streaming services very easily. Your connection will also exponentially slow down if you have multiple household members using the internet at the same time. So before you opt for the cheapest plan, it’s a good idea to assess exactly what you really need.
Are there better TWC deals?
If you’re only looking for internet, the package that offers both speed and affordability is the Turbo Internet package, which provides speeds up to 20 Mbps for just $44.99 per month for 12 months. That’s 10 times the speed of the lowest package for just three times the price. With that, most users can accomplish what they want online — whether they’re downloading large files, streaming movies or gaming with friends — without worrying about lag or the number of connected users.
What if I want cable TV too?
For an even better deal, bundling multiple services with TWC usually results in substantial savings. The Double Play bundle, for instance, which runs just $114.99 per month for 12 months, offers Internet speeds and cable TV channels that suit most consumer needs. With this package, you get up to 20 Mbps of download speed — just like the Turbo Internet package — and more than 200 cable TV channels and 18,000 On Demand titles.
Even better, the Double Play package also includes DVR capabilities and access to select premium channels like HBO®, Showtime® and Starz® free for 12 months. The savings from the DVR services alone give this plan an edge over other cable and Internet provider offerings. Paired with the additional savings on premium channels, this is one of the better deals on the market.
Time Warner Cable offers plenty of cable Internet and bundled packages. As you make your choice, however, don’t just opt for low prices — check to see which package offers the features you need to comfortably use the Internet at home. And if Time Warner Cable isn’t available in your area, search for another internet provider that offers the service you need.
*Pricing and speeds are current as of writing. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.
Everyone loves a great deal, especially when it comes to monthly services. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) understand this principle, which is why many of them offer free equipment or other perks when you sign up for service. If you’re not sure what perks your current ISP offers, or if you’re shopping for a new ISP altogether, this guide will help you figure out which provider is offering a deal that you simply can’t refuse.
XFINITY
You’re probably familiar with some basic XFINITY® offerings, including fast speeds and a rapidly expanding service area, but what you may not know is that every XFINITY customer also has access to an additional service called Internet on the Go. With Internet on the Go, subscribers have free access to over 8 million hotspots nationwide. This extensive coverage, paired with the XFINITY Connect™ app, makes it easy to keep track of appointments and check email away from home.
Another perk is Constant Guard® by XFINITY. All XFINITY Internet customers receive basic online security protection via the Norton™ Security Suite, which provides protection against viruses and spyware. The company also makes it easy to add upgrades to regular monthly bills.
Charter Spectrum
Charter Spectrum is one of the only ISPs that provides customers with a free modem across most plan offerings — including bundles. This helps reduce overall monthly costs, as it saves users from paying a rental fee for this necessary equipment.
Another feature that Charter Spectrum offers is month-to-month service. Customers can enjoy reliable, fast Internet without being tied down to a contract. This gives users flexibility and freedom to choose the Internet plan that makes the most sense for them, even if their needs change. In fact, Charter Spectrum is so committed to abolishing contracts that certain new customers may qualify for up to a $500 buyout to help them get out of a current contract with another provider.
CenturyLink
All CenturyLink Internet plans include basic protection from CenturyLink @Ease® online security by Norton™. Customers can adjust their level of security coverage and take advantage of the peace of mind that comes with Identity Guard for an additional monthly fee. The company also offers a 30-day Satisfaction Guarantee for new Internet customers, a policy that ensures any user who is not satisfied with their CenturyLink service can cancel within 30 days and receive a credit for all Internet service charges, modem or router charges, shipping fees, activation fees, and any other applicable taxes or other surcharges.
As an added bonus, subscribers can avoid installation fees by opting for CenturyLink’s self-installation kit, which includes everything necessary to get an Internet connection up and running. Plus, customers who order a CenturyLink bundle online may qualify for a prepaid Visa card worth up to $150. The company also offers prepaid Visa cards for customers who refer friends and family members to CenturyLink.
Cox
Subscribers enjoy a variety of free services with their Cox High Speed Internet™ plan. The company starts things on the right foot by waiving installation fees, but it doesn’t stop there. Cox gives customers a free Cox email account with Cloud storage, which is protected by free security through the Cox Security Suite powered by McAfee®. The Security Suite also provides antivirus protection and an online app that customers can use to check the security of their home wireless network.
Additionally, Cox gives High Speed Internet subscribers access to Music Choice, a portal that offers a wide selection of music channels, videos, and original programming. Customers can listen to more than 50 pre-made channels or create their own music channels and video playlists.
Windstream
Windstream offers its subscribers the ability to sign up for High Speed Internet without the hassle of a long-term contract. Very few other ISPs provide such a winning combination of flexibility and security.
Windstream’s solid plan offerings are backed up by an extensive 24/7 help network. In addition to a large library of online support resources, Windstream also provides real-time assistance via their virtual agent, Wendy. Customers can chat live with Wendy, email questions to support, or call the help line directly at any time, day or night.
AT&T
AT&T internet plans include up to 11 email accounts and 2 GB of secure online storage. In addition, AT&T customers have access to AT&T’s extensive network of public Wi-Fi hotspots across the country and internationally. Users can consult the company’s Wi-Fi location map to find hotspots, whether they are close to home or on vacation. This allows customers consistent access to their Internet service and other network resources.
AT&T also offers one particular benefit that most other ISPs don’t: a battery backup. This device will keep customers’ Internet services up and running, even if the power goes out. The backup only extends power for a few hours, but that can be the difference between saving a current project and losing hours of work. For customers who live in areas where severe weather often affects power, this perk could be a lifesaver.
In addition to all of these great perks, several of the above listed companies offer further discounts for subscribers with limited financial means. So no matter what your situation, if you need Internet service, there are ISPs that can provide the benefits you want. Now that you know the kinds of perks that are out there, it’s time to stop browsing and start shopping. Check out providers in your area today.
The Internet makes it simple to stay in touch with relatives, no matter where they live. You can Skype with cousins across the country on a daily basis or get Facebook updates about every aspect of your grandma’s life. But has this constant connectivity had an impact on the way we interact with our families?
Parents Lack Self-Control
Parents and social media can sometimes be a terrible combination. The rise of “sharenting” involves parents documenting the lives of their children on sites like Facebook. A recent study showed this could lead to complications. Parents are inadvertently creating digital identities for their children before the kids ever get on a computer.
The study reports that 70 percent of parents say they get advice from other parents online. In particular, the study cited instances of parents divulging their children’s behavioral issues online. It claims this leads to embarrassment for the kids when they get older, as other children access this information and use it for bullying.
In the case of younger children, some parents have resorted to “shaming” their children online to get them to listen, which many psychologists see as damaging to kids’ self-esteem and family relationships.
Loss of Trust
At least one study has shown that mobile devices and Internet connectivity has led to a loss of trust and intimacy. The lack of face-to-face interaction causes family and friends to lose their sense of empathy. While many people might see kids today as too engulfed in their mobile devices, many children claim their parents are the one spending too much time on them.
Children in the study claimed they felt their parents were no longer interested in paying attention to them. Forty-eight percent of people say they feel ignored due to another family member’s constant Internet use. Ninety-two percent said they felt ignored due to family members spending too much time on a mobile device.
They see a lack of empathy from their parents. The same study claims the lack of interpersonal connection and interaction makes kids feel intimidated when trying to talk to their parents and other adults.
Conversely, one study found that teen are now more “hyper connected” to their parents than ever before. Researchers found children were contacting their parents at least 13 times a week through Internet-capable technology.
Research indicated parents are buying their children cell phones at early ages to keep in touch with them. Some even go so far as to track their kids with GPS.
Blurred Boundaries Between Work and Home
Polls have indicated 41 percent of employed individuals are required to maintain contact with work outside of the office. Another 56 percent have done work while on vacation with the family. The Internet has blurred the boundaries between work and home life, sometimes affecting relationships between family members.
With constant access to email people often feel obligated to be on-call, limiting the time we have to bond with our families. It’s not unusual to see mom or dad whip out the cellphone in between scooping up spaghetti these days.
One study showed 45 percent of participants felt Internet access greatly increased their contact with family members. On the other hand, 51 percent it had no effect on their contact with family at all.
Of course, the Internet isn’t perfect and how we react to it will differ from family to family. For some, it’s a tool that has allowed us to become closer to our relatives while, for others, it’s only driven them further apart. The Internet makes communication between family members easier than ever, as long as that communication is happening online it would seem.
The Internet has no single owner. The complete list of companies that own the networks that combine to make up the Internet is ever changing and far too large for this article. Focusing on the larger networks making up the greater Internet infrastructure, often called “the backbone,” the companies listed below own the Internet.
Who owns the Internet?
According to data from The Cooperative Association for Internet Data Analysis (CAIDA), these companies own the largest pieces of the Internet backbone.
This list is based on the percentage of IPv4 addresses within each company’s scope. These companies own big communication networks and allow smaller companies to rent portions of their networks. Those smaller companies, in turn, rent out portions of their networks to even smaller companies. The pattern continues on down to the consumer. Any IPv4 address residing on any of those networks would be considered in the company’s scope.
For example, 79% of all IPv4 addresses are serviced by companies that rent network usage from Level 3 Communications, or companies that rent network usage from Level 3 Communications, and so on and so forth.
The usage is not exclusive. Big companies will rent to several smaller companies and the smaller companies will rent from several of the bigger companies. In this way, the scope of these companies overlap.
These numbers only represent a connection. They do not necessarily reflect profitability, traffic, or company size.
These companies, along with several others, own big pieces of the Internet infrastructure. They control huge portions of the towers, cables, and servers we rely on to keep the Internet working.
Owning so much of the Internet infrastructure would seem to give these companies huge amounts of influence over Internet content, but the Internet is too large and dynamic to be overly influenced by any one company. Several organizations work to keep it that way.
The Internet Caretakers
Four organizations work together to keep the Internetworking and running smoothly:
The Internet Society creates the standards and policies of Internet functionality.
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) works to maintain a stable and secure Internet architecture.
The Internet Architecture Board (IAB) oversees Internet protocols.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages the Domain Name System that routes all the traffic on the Internet.
Although these organizations don’t own the Internet, they work to keep individual networks of the Internet working together.
We’re all Renters
You may own your computer. You may pay your ISP for Internet access. But the infrastructure that actually makes your connection work is owned by companies with which you may have no association. The protocols governing your connection are developed and implemented by other organizations that seem to fly under the radar.
You may have an email account, a login, password, profile, security question, avatar, handle, screen name, and a signature. But if they are all part of the program stored on servers on other networks and can only be accessed by paying a fee, are they really yours?
Everyone talks about the importance of online privacy, and savvy surfers know how to manage their personal data. But how much can you really tell about what information you’re sending when you search — and who is able to see that information?
There are only two ways that your search history can be uniquely identified: by your IP address or by an online identity — actual accounts, such as profiles on Google, Apple, Amazon, eBay and Facebook, but also more limited identities such as message board profiles and simple repeated visits to a website. Through the use of cookies, the basic info of your IP address can be combined with more personal data to add a certain amount of uniqueness and depth to your browsing and search history.
Browser History
Browsers collect information in two separate ways, loosely separated into online and offline history. Your browser maintains an ongoing history of sites that you visit, as well as recording any other IPs that are connecting to you while you search. Visiting any single web page may involve connecting to multiple IP addresses for images, video, advertisements and background processes (such as Java and Flash). For simplicity’s sake, your browser history will display only the page that you visited (the address in your browser’s address bar), but also record all of those “hidden” IP addresses as well.
This browsing history is saved offline, accessible only by someone with access to your device. However, your browsing history may also be saved online in various ways. Every IP connection is saved in one or more server logs, and all visits to a given website may be stored anonymously on a server database. That’s essentially how Google (or any other search provider) ranks the popularity of sites to provide more useful results — the more unique IPs that are recorded, the more popular the website is. Additionally, your browser history may be saved online if it is linked to an online account, such as using Chrome with a Google Account, or Safari with an Apple ID.
HTTP headers and server logs
All browsing history is technically “recorded” in the sense that server logs exist for all Internet communications. Whenever you visit a website, a “note” is made of the connection between your IP address and the IP address of the site, as well as the date and time of the connection. Depending on how verbose the header is, this “note” may also include browser and operating system information (as well as screen resolution and color depth — helpful info that allows the sites you visit to display their web pages properly on your browser). This is known as the “user agent string” and is part of the HTTP header that is sent and received with every Internet communication.
Who can see this info? Technically, anyone — any website that you visit, and any servers along the way. It’s the 21st Century version of Caller ID — anybody can see the number that you’re “calling from,” and that number may provide general identification and location information. Your phone number may be recorded by anyone that you call, but they have to let you know if they’re recording the content of the call (e.g., “for quality purposes”). Likewise, any website or online service that collects information beyond the basic HTTP header strings will only do so with your consent.
Consent and confidentiality
When you use an application or online service that collects information, you are bound by the Terms of Service or EULA (End-User Licensing Agreement). EULAs involve explicit permission, such as clicking the “I agree” button at the bottom of a pop-up or installation dialog. When you install an app on your phone or tablet, you’ll be presented with the specific kinds of information that you’re allowing the app to access. This can go far beyond the simple HTTP header info, so it’s always in your best interest to read the EULA before agreeing.
On the other hand, it would be far too cumbersome to have to agree to a EULA every time you visit a website or use an online service. Most if not all websites operate with Terms of Service, a statement of the rights and responsibilities of both the site operators and visitors. In certain circumstances, navigating to a site may bring up a consent pop-up (typically to verify that the visitor is of legal age to view the content). More commonly, however, agreement to the Terms of Service is implied simply by your continued use of the product. For example, any time you do a Google Search, you are tacitly agreeing to Google’s Terms of Service and the “What We Collect” portion of Google’s Privacy Policy.
Google is able to provide Search for free by selling the data that it collects. This is the model for virtually every “free” online service — you agree to “pay” with specific kinds of data. In the case of Google Search, the basic data that you provide is your IP address and the search queries that are sent from that address. Google’s Terms of Service allow the company to provide that information to advertisers, who can then deliver increasingly appropriate ads via Google products accessed by your IP address in the future. For more advanced services, you’re often required to “pay” with more data.
Cookies
Cookies refer to data that is saved by the browser during a visit to a specific website. If that website is visited again, the site will access the cookie to get information in addition to the basic HTTP header data. This data can include nearly anything, up to and including personal information such as name, address, passwords and credit card information. For that reason, many cookies are encrypted with the highest level of data security — and your browser will give you several ways to manage, deny and delete them.
Cookies were designed as a way to provide the Internet user with a consistent and convenient experience. Without cookies, any website that required a log in would ask for your username and password every time you navigated to the site — or even to different pages on the same site. This enables things like persistent shopping carts, as well as the “history” of selections on the website — including preferences, filters and past site searches.
Browsers provide you with the means to view saved cookies, as well as to delete any or all of them. Every modern web browser also provides some method of “private browsing” which prevents the browser from sending any data other than the IP address, and also from recording that session’s activity in the browser’s history log. This still allows websites to register the incoming IP and header information, but disables the use of ongoing cookies (existing cookies won’t “know” that you’re browsing, and any new cookies won’t be saved once the browser is closed). Advanced options include “blacklisting” specific cookies, so they’ll never be saved by your browser, or even “whitelisting” to only allow specific cookies of your choosing.
Profiles and accounts
Basic data can be combined with more personal data, but only with your consent. For example, if you are signed in to a Google Account while you search, your profile data is linked to search history, and cross-referenced between Chrome, Search, YouTube, Android apps, Gmail and other Google products. This can include a lot of data that you may prefer to keep private, so Google also provides you with various ways to keep track of your information — including the Google Dashboard, an absolute must-see site for any Search user with a Google Account.
Other online services store data and specify what kinds of data is available to others. Social networking sites often have various levels of sharing, in which certain personal data is hidden from the public but accessible by friends. Likewise, the site’s Terms of Service should inform you of what data is stored, including searches performed on the site or hyperlinks shared to the site, and to whom the data can be made available. This can become complicated to manage, depending upon the site’s user controls and the transparency of its agreements with third parties such as app developers and advertisers.
Even with only an IP address to work with, you may be surprised at just how accurately these bits of anonymous and incomplete data can anticipate your likes and preferences. The more you agree to add more personally identifiable information to the mix, the Internet becomes increasingly efficient and convenient every time you search. Along with this tailored experience comes increasing responsibility to be aware of the tools at your disposal to manage and protect your personal data.