Households that are eligible for the FCC's Lifeline program-which provides subsidies to families who can't readily afford internet access-as well as those who've lost jobs during the pandemic-can receive up to $50 per month to offset the cost.Ĭustomers of DirecTV and U-verse TV service will see prices rise starting next month. In addition, the new stimulus package expected to pass Congress includes a $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit. On a positive note, many internet service providers have continued to extend programs begun in response to the pandemic to keep students and those eligible for low-income programs connected. We'll add them to this list once that information becomes available. Other companies haven't disclosed rate increases but in the past have raised rates in the January to March time frame. Here's a list of the companies that have already announced price hikes for TV plans, broadband internet service, or both. You also have a 24-hour window to cancel service without penalty, and you can no longer be charged for equipment you don't use, such as a router if you're using your own. A new law, passed at the end of 2019 and now finally in effect, requires cable and satellite TV companies to disclose the total monthly price of your TV bill, including all itemized charges, fees, and estimated taxes, when you sign up. A lot of those bills consist of added cable fees that aren't included in the advertised price but show up on the monthly bill. There's one bright note for consumers facing high cable TV prices.
More people are opting for the streaming alternatives, including some some newer ones from large media companies. Some 6.3 million people dropped their cable or satellite TV service in just the past 12 months, according to the investment research firm Moffett Nathanson. Traditional pay-TV companies continue to lose TV subscribers but are adding broadband customers. “We are delivering faster broadband speeds and improved performance-all as the average price per megabit per second and per gig consumed declines dramatically.” In a statement sent to Consumer Reports, Charter said it was raising the price for Spectrum internet access as the company enhances its services. Periodically, TV network owners increase the fees they charge DIRECTV for the right to broadcast their movies, shows and sporting events,” DirecTV said in a notice to customers. “Due to increased programming costs, we’re adjusting the price of our video packages. Comcast also increased its limit to 1.2 TB per month.As with past price hikes, the TV companies blame the ever-rising cost of programming, as well as improvements in broadband speeds, for the increases. Unlimited options are available to AT&T customers on some capped plans if they pay $30 a month extra, or if they bundle their service with other AT&T products.Ĭustomers who are having difficulty paying their AT&T bills can call 80 for help, Kimberly said.Ĭable TV and internet provider Comcast, AT&T’s biggest competitor in the Houston area, suspended its waivers earlier in the year, though it also kept the waiver on its low-income service through the middle of 2021. Release Notes: Get Dwight Silverman’s weekly tech newsletter in your inbox They won’t be charged the overage fee of $10 for each 50 GB over until the third time they breach the cap. Fixed-wireless internet services are capped at 250 GB per month.ĪT&T Internet customers will receive warnings when they hit 65 percent, 90 percent and 100 percent of the limit. NEW OPTIONS: AT&T adds slower, lower-priced tiers to fiber serviceĭata limits remain suspended for customers of AT&T Access, the company’s low-income internet program, through June 30, according to spokespeson Jim Kimberly.Ĭustomers who still have AT&T’s oldest and slowest internet service, DSL, did not have their caps waived, which are set at 150 GB per month. The company does not impose data caps on its AT&T Fiber offerings. 1 the 1-terabyte-per-month data limits are back for customers of AT&T Internet, previously known as U-verse Internet.
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