Entry

Who pays for the internet? Users pay a flat monthly fee to their ISPs, but who pays WorldCom or AT&T or other companies for the use of their cables?

Apr 17th, 2001 21:45
John Brett, Larry Baum,

Basically, users pay their ISP a flat rate (normally), and the ISP pays
one of the telecommunications carriers (AT&T, WorldCom etc) for a
broadband line to their offices which is typically charged by usage. 
The ISP's average out the usage of users to determine how much to charge
at a flat rate.
When going between cables owned by different carriers, the carriers pay
to use a their bandwidth (though at much lower rates than for a normal
customer).  So ultimately the user pays, but the money they pay
effectively goes to several places (the ISP, and to various carriers)