Rogers to End Access to Usenet
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Rogers is quietly ending access to the Usenet on December 15. Customers were apparently not directly notified - an alert customer noticed new information posted to a Rogers FAQ. The ostensible reason:
Internet technology is constantly changing. Usenet was one of the earliest forms of user discussion on the Internet, but today has largely been replaced by blogs, instant messaging, personal web pages and other tools. As a result, fewer and fewer people are accessing Usenet.
Therefore, Rogers has decided to stop providing Usenet service to Rogers Yahoo customers effective December 15, 2005.
Oddly enough, BroadbandReports.com states that the original explanation included a second reason:
as a member of Canadian Coalition Against Internet Child Exploitation (CCAISE) Rogers is committed to reducing the effectiveness of Usenet as a distribution vehicle for child exploitation images.
The current FAQ doesn’t include that explanation - was it deleted after an outburst of customer frustration? In any event, it’s a laudable motive, no doubt, but if it’s true, as many disgruntled customers have commented, why not shut down access to the web as well? Surely the real motive was that few users use it and those who do use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth (for warez, music, etc.). As one annoyed observer posted on BroadbandReports.com:
As always they are using one thing (Child exploitation) as an excuse for another. Usenet requires a lot of bandwidth (especially binary newsgroups) for meaningful retention and the servers should be closely watched and upgraded regularly (storage, bandwidth etc.) This is probably the real reason.
The news server problems have been a on again-off again constant issue on Time Warner Austin cable discussion group on Yahoo Groups.
There is still a lot of value outside of binary groups. They could drop groups that carry X-/R- rated material and leave access to others available if children was the real concern.
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For those looking to replace the Rogers Usenet service there is more information plus a list of free usnet servers at http://dumprogers.blogspot.com
This site has tracked some of the more recent changes to the rogers service (or lack of)
http://ca.geocities.com/rogers.cuts@rogers.com/
Ironic that rogers webspace is used to support ANTI rogers
Most of what has been said or looks to happen @ rogers seems to be there
Just in case anyone is interested, Newsdemon.com, one of the US based high-end Usenet providers, has been sending out fliers in some boards with a discount coupon for any rogers user who signs up with a rogers email address.
The coupon code is : rogers10
It gives a 10% discount (lifetime) on any of their monthly subscriptions.
I use them and find them to be a much cheaper alternative to giganews while still having most of the same retention and just as much reliability.
Here is their url: http://www.newsdemon.com
I prefer http://www.newshosting .com/ ?a=72766 Have been with them since last september when blodgers first started dismantling thier services.
And like many premium news services they too have just upped the quality in terms of connection and service.
Rogers is/was a dinosaur that is now starting to die from the toes up. They need to go back to basics when it comes to customer satisfaction. Else thr rot wont stop.
Of course the cancellation of usenet is the bottom line…. Money. As if the Rogers Corporate Pigs aren’t fat enough. There’s always more room in their wallets. The cancellation of the service will certainly line their greedy greasy porker pockets with a little bit more fat.
I was frustrated as were alot of people with this decision by Rogers.
Then I thought why not just go right back to my beginnings.
Signed up for a new National Capital Freenet Account - donated 10$ and now have local newsfeeds again.
problem solved, supporting a worthy group all at the same time.
Still thinking about switching to DSL - but Bell is no better! Been there done that…