Comcast set to cap your data usage

Comcast initially rolled out 300 gigabit-per-month data caps on its Xfinity Internet service in Florida back in October, and now the service provider is expanding the practice to other markets around the country.

After monitoring the data usage and listening to feedback and complains of these three markets customers, the company has made a decision to charge an additional specific amount of money for users, who uses more than 300 GB data per month frequently.

Comcast launched its unlimited data option in Atlanta for customers who are willing to pay an additional $35 fee.

Comcast is America’s largest cable company and its practices are closely watched.

EPB, which has signed up more than 76,000 telecom users to its fiber optics network, doesn’t plan to impose such limits or extra charges for heavy data users, EPB spokesman John Pless said. So for instance, if you blow past 300 GB in a month and use up to 350 GB, you pay an extra $10.

The cap goes into effect on December 1.

Watching movies or TV shows on Netflix uses about 1 gigabyte of data per hour for each stream of standard definition video, and up to 3 gigabytes per hour for each stream of HD video, according to Netflix.

The terms “unlimited data” and “data cap” likely sound familiar to you, as cellular providers like AT&T and T-Mobile have been selling mobile Internet like this for years. The median Comcast Xfinity customer consumes about 40 gigabits, the company says. While 300 GB of data would seem more than enough to a few users, there are subscribers who need bulks of data for either their entertainment or work, especially now that online streaming services and home-based jobs have taken into full swing. The steep cost of broadband services in the U.S.is already a significant barrier to access for many. Comcast and other ISPs argued to the Government Accountability Office a year ago that heavy data use isn’t making wired networks congested, but that extra revenue from data caps could help fund network upgrades.

“With regard to usage-based pricing, we don’t do it”, Rutledge said.

“We have never had data caps and we have no plans to adopt them”, Pless said. DSL Reports reported that customers in the new market would have the “unlimited” option as well. On Wednesday, Comcast added several small towns and cities in Tennessee, Virginia and Louisiana to the trial.

In the meantime, Comcast is trying to re-assure affected customers that the trials are no big deal.