Network+ E-mail: Gridlock on the Internet
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Charles Arthur's article "Information Superhighway? Bah!" (29 July) touched on an area that I feel needs further discussion.
The legacy of America's local free call policy is thousands of Americans being online while not at their computers. It is not unusual, for example, when doing a "Who is" on an IRC channel, to find the user "idle for 17 hours 45 minutes". Invariably they are asleep, having turned off their "Disconnect if idle for xx" option in PPP, and simple auto routines either prevent any IRC bots kicking them or, if they do, the programme reconnects. If they did not have free calls, they would not do this.
Who is responsible for the Internet Gridlock? Well, we are all guilty, but perhaps free callers are more guilty than most. At the very least, the ISPs should disconnect blatant idlers. Just my two cents' worth. Or at BT rates, just sending this e-mail in the daytime has cost me about 15p.
Nick Harman
nharman@copycom.demon.co.uk
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments