TalkTalk charging for emails!

Hermione_Granger

hpuse said:

I do not think it is as simple as that.

There is something called USO (universal service obligation) coming for both broadband and telephony service providers.

An email address, in my view is a basic unseparable entity that is linked to a service & a fundamental need of electronic communication for a consumer - especially those who started their service in 1995-2000s. 

Removing or charging access to email could be similar to removing a master telephone socket from home.

It is as simple as that. The Universal service obligation doesn't cover email, simply internet access.
There is nothing whatsoever in the USO that states or implies that an e-mail service must be provided, let alone that it must be provided free of charge.
In fact, the USO doesn't even apply to the matter being discussed as the purpose of the obligation is simply to ensure that everyone has access to a reasonable speed internet connection at a reasonable price (up to £45 per month).
Whether or not the people using the internet want an e-mail service is entirely up to them.

NBLondon

Latest update on my ancient tiscali account...

As your mailbox is not attached to a broadband contract, and because you haven’t signed up to TalkTalk Mail Plus, your mailbox will soon be closed down.

Your mailbox will be closed down from 03/05/2020, and your email address xxxxxx@tiscali.co.uk will be permanently deactivated. Unfortunately, it won’t be possible to recover the contents of your mailbox once it’s gone.

Wonder if that means tomorrow or Sunday 3rd May?  They've been threatening for months now....

hpuse

Agree, USO broadband draft does not cover email currently. There are various consultation documents available on the ofcom website discussing various cost models for components USO connections, especially the shared infrastructure cost apportionment. Ofcom could well argue that keeping email under the shared infrastructure cost, and that was my point.

Hermione_Granger

hpuse said:

Agree, USO broadband draft does not cover email currently. There are various consultation documents available on the ofcom website discussing various cost models for components USO connections, especially the shared infrastructure cost apportionment. Ofcom could well argue that keeping email under the shared infrastructure cost, and that was my point.

But if you are paying an ISP for internet access, you will automatically be getting an e-mail service included in the cost.
The problem that the OP has is that they want a company to keep on providing them with an mail service but they don't wish to pay for this.
However you look at the USO, there is no provision for either internet access nor an Email service to be provided free of charge.

hpuse

Not all home-broadband providers provide email (For e.g vodafone home broadband), hence USO becomes very important governing factor in my view.

A practical example of this is : We still have a lot of OAP non-tech-savvy population avoiding use of home broadband or internet and rely on friends/relatives for their basic internet needs.

Govt has a commitment to encourage them to use online service at their own homes.

For e.g if a OAP writes a will, it is most likely delivered by email from the solicitor/lawyer company.   And just imagine the practical difficulties in getting that will retrieved when email account gets closed after the OAP dies?

It is definitely not as easy as dismissing a BBC article as ridiculous article, when they are written for a purpose of conveying an important message?

Hermione_Granger

hpuse said:

Not all home-broadband providers provide email (For e.g vodafone home broadband), hence USO becomes very important governing factor in my view.

So?
If you have an internet service, you have access to a great many free e-mail providers such as Yahoo and G-mail, which means that access to an e-mails provider is not lost by using Vodafone so no, the USO still has no relevance whatsoever as this deals strictly with internet access.

hpuse

An OAP will struggle to understand what is the "great many free email providers such as Yahoo and G-mail !

If the email comes with the service, the installtion and delivery of the service is much easier to support, manage, and administer. Hence the need of USO, all in my opinion, and of course BBC article conveys the same point, which was the case during 1995-2000 (all ISPs provided email accounts)

JJ_Egan

Thats just an insult o those over 65 / OAPs .

Stupidity does not come with the free bus pass .

hpuse

Way saying/giving a contextual example with freedom of expression in mind, any issues please report it rather than remarking on it? 

Zedicus

hpuse said:

Way saying/giving a contextual example with freedom of expression in mind, any issues please report it rather than remarking on it? 

So only you are allowed freedom of expression? You want to be able to express yourself but deny others the same freedom. Good luck with that.

And your comment about OAP's was asinine, anyway.