FAP...the necessary throttle used by most ISP's
FAP, or better known as "Fair Access Policy", is the action Internet Service Providers utilize to try to keep service levels as close to the advertised speeds as possible for consumer and low end enterprise satellite internet products. For those not familiar with this mechanism of throttling users who "use too much too quick", all users of the major consumer satellite internet providers, are made aware of limitations of daily use when they sign up...usually! There have been some providers, like Wildblue and Unasat, who found out that they either needed to change the limitations (Wildblue) or go from no FAP to a policy that implements FAP - after the fact, as in the case of Unasat.
Most users of the internet via satellite never have a problem with these limitations; however, some of the companies are more punative than others when you do go over the limitations. As a prospect of a satellite service, it is very important that you are completely familiar with the company's policy regarding FAP before you sign the dotted line.
As of August 1, 2006 the most punitive FAP on the market is Wildblue Communications...if you ever hit it. They have a fairly liberal monthly (only ISP to do it that way) allowance for internet activity, but if you go over that allowance, look out! You will be throttled back to 128/28 kbps for at least 10 days and possibly as long as several weeks. That is crawling!
Next in line is the Unasat ku band Surfbeam platform. They have decent enough daily allowances, but use the same refill rates (throttled rate) for a $59.99 per mo. service as they do for a $700 per mo. service....that is, if you hit your daily allowance you will be slowed down to 128 kbps download/ 28 kbps upload for the balance of the 24 hour period, regardless of your service level......not cool.
The best thought out FAP program on the market today is HughesNet, not that anyone likes it, but at least it allows a fair amount of downloading before you are slowed down, and is far less punitive for higher levels of service.
You can judge for yourself, if you can figure them out, by going to the following sites to see the actual FAP policies:
Wildblue FAP: http://www.wildblue.com/legal/fair.jsp
Unasat FAP: http://www.datasatplus.com/datasatplus/files/DataSatPlus%20Sat%20Service%20FAP.pdf
HughesNet FAP: http://www.hughes.com/HUGHES/Rooms/DisplayPages/layoutInitial?Container=com.webridge.entity.Entity%5BOID%5BBD8BE0839F414B4FB7CDDCA10EFA5369%5D%5D
Most users of the internet via satellite never have a problem with these limitations; however, some of the companies are more punative than others when you do go over the limitations. As a prospect of a satellite service, it is very important that you are completely familiar with the company's policy regarding FAP before you sign the dotted line.
As of August 1, 2006 the most punitive FAP on the market is Wildblue Communications...if you ever hit it. They have a fairly liberal monthly (only ISP to do it that way) allowance for internet activity, but if you go over that allowance, look out! You will be throttled back to 128/28 kbps for at least 10 days and possibly as long as several weeks. That is crawling!
Next in line is the Unasat ku band Surfbeam platform. They have decent enough daily allowances, but use the same refill rates (throttled rate) for a $59.99 per mo. service as they do for a $700 per mo. service....that is, if you hit your daily allowance you will be slowed down to 128 kbps download/ 28 kbps upload for the balance of the 24 hour period, regardless of your service level......not cool.
The best thought out FAP program on the market today is HughesNet, not that anyone likes it, but at least it allows a fair amount of downloading before you are slowed down, and is far less punitive for higher levels of service.
You can judge for yourself, if you can figure them out, by going to the following sites to see the actual FAP policies:
Wildblue FAP: http://www.wildblue.com/legal/fair.jsp
Unasat FAP: http://www.datasatplus.com/datasatplus/files/DataSatPlus%20Sat%20Service%20FAP.pdf
HughesNet FAP: http://www.hughes.com/HUGHES/Rooms/DisplayPages/layoutInitial?Container=com.webridge.entity.Entity%5BOID%5BBD8BE0839F414B4FB7CDDCA10EFA5369%5D%5D
posted by Randy Scott at 6:21 PM
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