To my knowledge, no ISP has imposed a “cap” on internet usage. A “cap” would mean there is an “upper limit“.
Yet the pejorative term found its way into a Globe and Mail headline: “Eastlink plan to cap ‘Rural Connect’ service draws scorn in Nova Scotia“. The article describes Eastlink’s plan to bundle 15 GB of data usage into its $46.95 monthly fee for “Rural Connect” service, with a charge of $2 per GB, up to a maximum of $20 in overage fees.
In other words, Eastlink will offer unlimited internet usage for $66.95.
How is that a cap on Rural Connect service?
Usage tiers allow entry level internet users a lower fee, without restricting their ability to use more internet services if they choose. Having a cap on overage fees, especially a low $20 fee cap, provides unlimited access at an affordable price.
Price tiers aren’t usage caps.
I do not understand why you have gotten so hung up on terminology. Anybody living in 2015 knows what an “internet cap” is. The fact you are playing with words is just a game that gets people nowhere.
There are a number of issues at hand with the Eastlink “Rural Connect” issue that are a lot deeper than this “cap” you speak of.
First, this service isn’t like any other service offering in Nova Scotia for wireless internet connectivity (such as Rogers or Bell) that offers internet access with price tiers, which were 100% privately funded and built. This service was funded by the provincial and federal government jointly to connect rural Nova Scotians with the promise of 100% coverage by the end of 2009. It was an ambitious project and failed to meet it’s 100% goal, still leaving many without connectivity to this day, with official estimates of around 1000 and unofficial estimates of over 5000 in Eastlink’s contracted territory.
Add on top of that Eastlink’s poor network management, leaving customers with speeds averaging around 0.5Mbps, three times less than what customers were promised, despite the fact that the other BRNS provider Seaside Communications have provided significantly better speeds using the exact same technology as Eastlink…
Then finally Eastlink says they want to hike prices with no intentions of upgrading (According to Eastlink CEO Lee Bragg himself on CBC Radio’s Information Morning) the network due to the fact it’s not “economical”. It’s not the “cap”. It’s their pathetic overall service offering. The extra charges are just to add salt to an already gaping wound.