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AT&T Customers, Say Adios to No-Limits Broadband

AT&T says monthly cap will affect only 2% of users

By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 14, 2011 8:33 AM CDT

(Newser) – AT&T is ending its unlimited broadband policy. Beginning May 2, the company will place a monthly cap on its subscribers, reports Engadget. If DSL subscribers go over the 150GB limit, or U-Verse subscribers top 250GB, then they will be charged an extra $10 for each additional 50GB (after two freebie overages). Less than 2% of AT&T subscribers should be affected, the company said in a statement, describing them as "those who are using a disproportionate amount of bandwidth."

AT&T said customers can get notifications so they can keep track of their usage, at 65%, 90%, and 100% of their monthly limits. "The top 2% of residential subscribers uses about 20% of the bandwidth on our network," said AT&T in a statement. "Lopsided usage patterns can cause congestion at certain points in the network, which can slow Internet speeds and interfere with other customers' access to and use of the network."

AT&T says it will cap its broadband Internet; going over the limit will cost you $10 for each 50GB.
AT&T says it will cap its broadband Internet; going over the limit will cost you $10 for each 50GB.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
Shinykid
Mar 14, 2011 7:52 PM CDT
When Time Warner Cable decided it was time to introduce "tiered internet" to us here in Texas, everybody and anybody wrote and called them to let them know that if they even tried, we'd jump ship to other providers. It worked. They called it off and said that "perhaps we need more time to educate people." It may not last forever, but it sure put them off their game. Grass roots works. Power to the people.
Griffmaster_01
Mar 14, 2011 7:39 PM CDT
FCC approved cables of varying speed already. Just a matter of time before the internet becomes quality segregated depending on how much you pay. RIP net neutrality.
scottaco
Mar 14, 2011 5:47 PM CDT
Here we go again with AT&T. As NICK mentioned, we have been overpaying under the guise of improved infrastructure (read fiber optics) for almost a decade. Now they want to charge more. I hope nobody thinks they'll stop at the top 2% of usage. In a little while, the next 2-10% will see their go up and so on. Here's my question: Exactly how does charging the top 2% more speed up MY internet? Does paying more magically open up new avenues for their bandwidth to travel through?

 
broadband Internet • AT&T • tiered broadband • unlimited broadband

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