Sprints may limit my Live Webcasts

Since last year I've been using Sprints "Mobile Broadband Connection Plan" to live Webcast my shows via www.Stickam.com then embed the live stream to www.marcdobson.com. I choose Sprint because the plan was unlimited unlike the competition, AT&T and Verizon who have monthly 5 gig caps on bandwidth.

Sprint is joining the 5 gig cap club limiting there "Mobile Broadband Connection Plans" to 5 gigs of bandwidth per month starting July 13, 2008. In a 4 hour show I use up to 1/2 a gig of bandwidth. It's possible I could only webcast 10 shows per month with a 5 gig cap although I do use public Wifi internet connections at some venues when available. Wifi is usually a better connection.

To my understanding, Sprint is imposing the cap is because there network can not handle unlimited bandwidth on data plans and maintain coverage for other existing and new services, like the recent "Simply Everything Plan" which includes unlimited data use . They are implying this will not effect 99% of there users and will effect only abusers of the plan. Abusers are defined as users who do more then email and browse internet pages like watching YouTube videos and downloading via peer to peer software which in my opinion is regular internet use now a days.

I'm sure I would be labeled as an abuser. When connected to Sprint 99% of the time I broadcast audio and video. BUT I signed up for UNLIMITED broadband bandwidth. Sprint is changing the contract terms. They are going to loose a number of costumers.

I'm not sure yet if I will leave Sprint. They are saying they will not check someones account unless they go over 5 gigs in 2 out of 3 consecutive months. Who knows, Sprint may cancel my account.