Understanding Broadband Usage
and Metered Broadband Services
W
hen you use the Internet, you are uploading and downloading data. This is known
as your broadband usage. The three main factors affecting your broadband usage
are the number of devices accessing the Internet, amount of time spent using the Internet,
and what type of online activities you do.
Some online activities require more broadband usage than others. For example, video
streaming takes up much more data than browsing a simple webpage. Broadband usage is
measured in gigabytes (GB) and one gigabyte is equal to 1,024 megabytes (MB).
To get an idea of the varying amounts of broadband usage for different online
activities, take a look at the list below. Each example requires about one GB:
As you may have heard, an increasing number of Internet providers are now metering broad-
band services and imposing data caps on their Internet plans. This means their subscribers
are being charged overage fees when their broadband usage goes over a certain limit.
THIS
IS NOT THE CASEWITHWHEAT STATE TELEPHONE.WE PROVIDE UNLIMITED
INTERNET PLANS.
Our plans enable your household to download to your heart’s con-
tent without ever worrying about your broadband usage.
If your family streams many movies and TV programs each month, often uses several
devices simultaneously, or enjoys online gaming, you’ll especially appreciate the value of
our unlimited Internet plans. Not only are they unlimited, they’re also extremely fast; we
offer plans with download speeds of up to 6 Mbps. For more details or to arrange installa-
tion, call 800-442-6835.
Cornerstone Group © 2013
• 68 YouTube videos
• 293 digital songs (mp3 files)
• 512 digital photos
• 1 hour of standard definition TV
• 7 minutes of high definition TV
• 1 hour of a movie
Backpack Safety is
a Weighty Issue
A new and disturbing trend is emerg-
ing. Today’s students are suffering
from back pain much earlier than
previous generations and the use of
overweight backpacks is a contribut-
ing factor. In fact, the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission reports
that backpack-related injuries in children
are steadily increasing—including
strains, sprains, dislocations, and
fractures.
As a parent, you can help prevent
pain from backpack misuse:
• Make sure your child’s backpack
weighs no more than 10-15 percent
of his/her body weight.
• The backpack should never hang
more than four inches below the
waistline.
• Look for a backpack with wide,
padded, and adjustable shoulder
straps and a waist belt. Urge your
child to always wear both shoulder
straps to distribute the load evenly.
• Pack heavier items closest to the
center of the back.
• Although backpacks on wheels
have some advantages, they’re dif-
ficult to pull up stairs and roll through
snow. They can also present a trip-
ping hazard in crowded hallways.
If the weight of needed textbooks
becomes problematic, ask the school
if it’s possible for extra textbooks to
be kept at home.
