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Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday June 21, 2003
If your idea of file-sharing is free access to anything, anytime, think again. Many consumers of broadband internet services such as cable and DSL have been "caught unawares by high bills for excess usage", says the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO), resulting in an increase in complaints about providers and services. However, Ombudsman John Pinnock points to consumers' lack of awareness about the conditions of use as the reason behind many complaints. Pinnock says that users "failed to realise that usage may include upload as well as download". As file-sharing software is a two-way street, you may be inadvertently paying for someone else's "free" software. The TIO recommends that users log out of their internet service when it is not in use and be clear on what your plan limit is.
© 2003 Sydney Morning Herald