Comcast - $30 charge to eliminate your data cap - Florida

[Jim K Global Moderator]

Comcast has data caps in various markets.  They are now offering a $30 dollar charge (on top of whatever you pay) to eliminate that cap.  

The nation's largest cable company has been trialling data caps in nine states, with slightly different policies in each one. Generally, customers who exceed a monthly limit pay an extra $10 for each additional 50GB, though customers are allowed to exceed the caps for three months before getting penalized.

But customers in Fort Lauderdale, the Keys, and Miami, Florida, can now purchase unlimited data for an extra $30 per month. Paying this additional $30 eliminates the 300GB monthly cap, but customers have to pay the extra amount each month even if they use less than 300GB.

"The Unlimited Data Option costs the current additional fee of $30 per calendar month, regardless of actual data usage," Comcast said in an FAQ updated today. (Thanks to DSLReports for noticing the change.)

Customers who use more than 450GB per month may come out ahead by purchasing the unlimited data option.

"For example, if you enroll in the Unlimited Data Option and use 530GB in a given month, you will only be charged $30 for choosing to enroll in the Unlimited Data Option," Comcast says. "If you do not enroll in the Unlimited Data Option, you would be on the 300GB plan and therefore would be charged $50 for the additional 250GB (five blocks of additional 50GB) provided on top of the 300GB plan. Note that customers enrolled in the Unlimited Data Option who use less than 300GB in a given month will still be charged $30 for that month."

 

More at Ars Technica  

Got to love monopolistic practices. 

[xendrome]

It's not monopolistic at all, you have a choice to use another provider like DSL, 4G, Satellite, etc. I think "monopoly" is the 2nd most incorrectly used phrase/word lately, next to "freedom of speech".

[Gone]

No, it's really a monopoly. Many areas only have one provider, especially if you live in an apartment complex. The idea of "Well you can move or use slow speed 3G/4G data" is dumb, all of these cable companies have a monopoly in most areas.

[Jim K Global Moderator]

It's not monopolistic at all, you have a choice to use another provider like DSL, 4G, Satellite, etc. I think "monopoly" is the 2nd most incorrectly used phrase/word lately, next to "freedom of speech".

Satellite ... please.  Satellite is very expensive, slow and already has a small data cap.

Anyway, reason for the "monopolistic" comment is that a lot of people only have one or two choices for cable/DSL ... as such there isn't a competitive market for equivalent services.  This allows a company (like Comcast) to set an arbitrary data cap and give you an optional $30 fee to remove that data cap.  Data caps could become a problem if implemented more widely ... especially as data usage continues to rise.  Comcast is doing nothing more than introducing a rate hike scheme.

[Ravensky]

No, it's really a monopoly. Many areas only have one provider, especially if you live in an apartment complex. The idea of "Well you can move or use slow speed 3G/4G data" is dumb, all of these cable companies have a monopoly in most areas.

Exactly...

[statm1]

Yep, DSL is always the excuse cable companies make when they know DSL rarely ever can compete. Stupid municipal agreements.

[Quillz]

Seems like if you intend to only slightly exceed the data cap, you're better off with the $10 fee for another 50 GB of data rather than paying $30 for a cap you may not exceed to begin with.

[CrashG]

Got no complaints with Charter in my area, No caps and I get the speeds I pay for, unlike AT&T.