Telecom exploiting uncompetitive markets and lazy regulators
Comcast has slowly but surely been expanding the company’s usage cap trialssince around 2012, largely focusing them on less competitive markets where annoyed users can’t vote with their wallets. In these seventeen (and counting) trial markets, Comcast broadband customers face a monthly usage cap of 300 gigabytes. After that, users need to shell out $10 for each additional 50 gigabytes of data consumed. The trials have expanded slowly but surely in the hopes of minimizing user backlash. Basically, Comcast is the hot water slowly coming to a boil, and you’re the frog.
It appears that Comcast has now added a new wrinkle to the mix, and has started charging these trial users an extra $30 if they want to bypass usage caps. The company’s FAQ for the new option tries to argue that the change is being made to provide consumers with greater “choice and flexibility”:
The Unlimited Data Option provides additional choice and flexibility for our customers who may make heavier use of the Internet. Enrollment is optional. The Unlimited Data Option costs the current additional fee of $30 per calendar month, regardless of actual data usage. The 300 GB plan will not apply to customers who enroll in the Unlimited Data Option.
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They are trying to make up all the revenue lost from people dropping cable and now streaming video.
ReplyDeleteI dropped my cable a few month ago because it was a total rip off. I can get what I want through streaming services and local digital through my antenna. I'm already pay 70 dollars per month just for internet and nothing else from comcast. This is a rip off, but my only other option is Dish Network's slower Satellite internet. Most countries like Great Britain have competition and charge less that 20 pounds or around 25 us dollars for the same service at a higher speed! No surprise since they are a monopoly!!!
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ReplyDeleteComcast = pirates.
Comcast service stinks!
ReplyDeleteYou still need their internet to stream video, They actually consider themselves a data company and you still pay them.
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