Comcast Follows Rogers Cap on Internet Usage
Comcast, the second largest Internet provider in the US, is likely to follow in Rogers footsteps by putting a cap on Internet access. You expected it from Canada’s alleged iPhone provider – but now Comcast wants to initiate penalties on overuse of its unlimited plans.
Sometimes Americans only have to look north of the border to see what’s coming. It’s proved true with winter cold fronts, seat belt laws and higher taxes but now the rule will apply to Internet access billing.
In Canada Rogers has already announced that starting this summer it’ll cap its previously unlimited high-speed Internet plans at 60GB. Comcast is now also considering its own cap on its unlimited home Internet plans.
It seems Comcast has a practice of calling users who go several times over the average usage of 2GB per month. Apparently, the company’s M.O. is to threaten the user to stop downloading hordes of movies or have their so-called unlimited accounts cancelled.
A Comcast insider told DSLReports.com it’s considering instituting a hard cap of 250GB. The plan would charge an additional $15 for each 10GB over the cap.
It’s true that Internet access costs money. Unlimited might have been a hasty marketing ploy in the early days of broadband. But you know the real reason for the cap isn’t to cover the cost of these Internet over-users.
Rogers and Comcast are both protecting their interests as Cable TV companies. They’re also protecting the studios from the perceived threat of piracy through illegal downloads. But with plenty of legal content download options available today – it’s likely Rogers and Comcast want a little extra if the Cable TV subscription paradigm has to compete with digital downloads.
Comcast’s 250GB makes Rogers cap of 60GB seem draconian by comparison. But such is life in the land without iPhone.
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