Whats Fair About a Broadband 'Fair Usage Policy'?

Whats Fair About a Broadband 'Fair Usage Policy'? You may have noticed that, though your Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offers"unlimited" downloads, usage is subject to a "fair usage policy" and wondered what was going on. Essentially, fair usage policies limit the usage of "heavy" or "excessive" users at peak times. These restrictions are imposed to ensure that the best quality of broadband is available to the maximum number of internet users. I feel that these limits are restricting and unfair. It may be worth your while to shop around and find an ISP that has no restrictions in place. What are "Peak Times?" These vary from ISP to ISP but are generally from 6pm-11pm, when people arrive home from work, college, school etc. What is a "Heavy" or "Excessive" User? Heavy or excessive users are generally those who use Peer-to-Peer (P2P) or file sharing software. They are users are those who upload and download large files such as movies and music to their computer on a daily basis. These users take up excessive bandwidth, slowing the connection down for everyone else that shares their connection. How much is too much? Day to day surfing, checking emails and occasional downloading should not get you into trouble with your ISP, however, downloading a 1-3GB movie every day is almost certain to. The key is to keep an eye on the amount that you are downloading and, if classed as a heavy or excessive user, restructure your internet usage pattern so that you are not uploading or downloading at peak times. How is usage limited? Generally, after a couple of months of excessive use, ISPs will notify you if they feel that your usage is heavy or excessive. This notification will usually point you in the direction of their specific policy on "fair usage" and suggest that you refrain from up- or down-loading large files at peak times. If you don't take heed of their warnings your ISP will slow down the speed of your connection at peak times. In serious cases your ISP may terminate your internet connection. Be warned. How can i control the amount of data i download ? Monitoring freeware is available to help you with this and are freely available on the Internet. If you want to download a large chunk of data then maybe restrict yourself to downloading during off-peak hours.

So, what is a MAC code?

A Mac has nothing to with fast-food; MAC stands for Migration Authorisation Code. It is issued by your existing broadband provider and is used to seamlessly switch from one provider to another without having to wait weeks to cease your line and re-register with another provider. It is usually about 17 character’s long, you do not have to worry yourself with the bizarre format.
How do I switch from one provider to another provider? It's easy to switch, all you have to do is
1. Obtain your MAC Code from your current broadband provider. This is normally achieved by calling their cancellation line and you should receive it in less than 5 working days by either email or a courtesy phone call. 2. Contact your new provider and register your Mac Code with them.
3. After registration you will receive a confirmation email or a confirmation snail mail with further detail as to when the switch will occur. The switch will usually occur in 10 working days from the date you registered. Do I cancel my account with my current broadband provider? No! It is important you do not cancel your account with your existing broadband provider. If you do, you may be without broadband for several weeks.
Can I switch from any Internet Service Provider to any Internet Service Provider? You should be able to switch from all non-cable broadband providers. Will my MAC code expire? Yes, MAC Codes do expire. You must use it 30 days from when it is issued
What do I do if my Mac Code expires?
It will no longer be valid. If your MAC code does expire you will need to call your existing service provider and ask them to re-issue you another one.
What to do if your existing Broadband Provider refuses to issue you your Mac Code?
If you’re existing Broadband provider refuses to issue you your Mac Code, then log a formal complaint with the Telecom Watchdog Ofcom on 02079813040.