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AT&T puts bandwidth squeeze on Reno
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Poor Reno. First, the Comedy Central show "Reno 911." Now AT&T will be experimenting with bandwidth caps and overage charges starting this month in the Nevada city. (Gee, and both concepts include handcuffs!)
Test customers will be equipped with an "online usage metering tool" that displays a running total of the amount of data the customer has "transmitted" during a given month, according to a AT&T briefing held with an FCC lawyer. Hit 80 percent of the limit and AT&T sends out a notice about the usage tier and charges incurred if they exceed it.
Customers have to go over the line twice before they get billed. And customers who don't want to participate in the trials have the option to cancel their broadband internet service without an early termination penalty.
According to AT&T, a small minority of their broadband customers consume a disproportionately large amount of the total broadband available to all of the customers on their network - just like over at Comcast. Last month, AT&T let the FCC know that U-Verse buyers were going to get new service terms to allow them to "temporarily" reduce Internet through rates when other U-verse services require high bandwidth, so it may be necessary to set a max downstream speed, kinda like Comcast.
For more:
- Ars Technica reports on AT&T's bandwidth cap experiment in Reno.
Related articles
Bandwidth limits bit users - FierceTelecom
Comcast speed & price increases in pipeline - FierceTelecom
Comments
Posted by Danyolson | November 7, 2008 - 7:52pm
I would have to disagree, sure you can turn your car off, lights and etc. To save, but then it also saves you money. With ATnT you pay flat fee every month, no matter if you use it everyday or never at all. I'm from Reno, play games, download lots. Atnt says its unfair to those users that dont use much internet, maybe because they dont have much use for the internet, check their email, read the news. I feel cheated by atnt, because I signed an unlimited data plan, now they changing the contract. Who are they to tell me what to do on the internet, I guess a big corporation with lots of lawyers. Well at least there are other providers that arent bullshiting like this.
Posted by Anthony_Blkyn | November 7, 2008 - 1:16pm
I agree with SKS. Other things to do is not to watch TV shows using the internet cause the network are out to take control of it, just like they have the air waves. Air waves that have been hijacked and used soley to sell, sell, sell, by saturating with commercials. Better to keep informed on what is happening at the FCC, and other govermental agancies. Be an informed citizen and let the goverment known that you are involved and will speak out against unjust regulations.
Posted by SKS | November 5, 2008 - 2:05pm
Supply and demand. The country/world uses internet all the time all the time all the time. We set the priority, just like with Cable, Gas, Coffee etc. If you as a "consumer" yes that is your name "consume" don't consume -- they can't charge. Shop around - don't sign on for what you don't need, turn off your electricity when not used, keep your heat at 62 degrees, turn off your car when not needed, and be thoughtful of your impact on the world. In a good way. Not a "they owe it to me" cause they don't. We are responsible, and must hold ourselves and our elected officials responsible to be good stewards. It starts with you and ends with you. I chose to live with no cable, no internet, no landline (yes I have three children and used the library and books, DVDs, CDs). It is not that big a deal to scale back. Folks really, put yourself into a financially responsible position and cut back and save your money, don't give it to AT&T Comcast, Verizon, etc. Greed is why we are in the situation we are in. When you owe - you are controlled. It is up to you - they listen to your reaction, not blog.
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