In Australia (where I live), ISPs generally have limits on the monthly subscription of brandband Internet (cap). Which is a huge pain in the arse because you have to essentially ration what you use. The problem arises when there are multiple self-serving individuals on your network, each wanting to maximise their individual net usage.
Exceeding the limit is meaningful because the "punishments" are just annoying enough to care. There is generally one of two consequences:
- the connection slows down to 256k (traffic shaping) or
- there is a ridiculous charge per MB used etc.
- families with multiple teenagers and
- housesharing uni students.
My idea is essentially based on using "tradable rights to use" to fix this tragedy-of-the-commons resource problem (see management of fisheries). Essentially I propose the following:
- Now that households are increasingly having 1 computer each person, within the management console of the router / modem, there can be a module to set the monthly overall limit and then allocate monthly limits by MAC address.
- There should be a function to set sizes of tradable "bundles", for example 10mbs per bundle, and each bundle is then assigned to a set currency determined and agreed by the household (ie 1 carwash = 2 bundles).
- Each computer then has a client module where individual users can engage in exchange with some oversight from the administrator (parent).
The benefits would be tremendous I think!
- Parents and fellow housemates win because there's less argument in the household.
- Kids learn about how resource problems work and learn a little about economic solutions (have you tried to ask a teenager what carbon trading is?)
- Modem makers can successfully differentiate their product as a family friendly (we help you do parenting! or allocate tasks between housemates).
- Chores get done argument free.
Basically its a total win! and knowing something about programming, it should be easy to put together. It's a basic third year assignment, not even an honours thesis.
What do you think?
PS. Uploading this on a 256k connection as I write...
