Data caps: an attack on cord-cutters?

Started by Tsutarja April 25th, 2016 6:53 AM
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Tsutarja

Age 28
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Florida
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Here's an editorial piece I found on the matter: http://www.techspot.com/news/64554-broadband-data-caps-having-their-intended-effect-punishing.html?google_editors_picks=true

So what do you guys think? Are ISPs instating data caps just to attack cord-cutters? Are they trying to force customers to pay for TV services that way data caps aren't reached?

Esper

California
Seen June 30th, 2018
Posted June 30th, 2018
This is one of those things that businesses in all kinds of markets are doing now: making their basic product less desirable by making it worse in order to force you into special/deluxe/premium/etc. versions which are better, but cost more.

I'm lucky in that I have a local provider that doesn't do any of this stuff and is still good quality and mostly reliable. Their whole thing is about being a good service so that they can get all the people who ditch Comcast because of Comcast being what it is.

Mewtwolover

Mewtwo worshiper

Age 38
Finland
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Finnish ISP's don't use data caps but what I've read about them, they seem to be nasty way to force people to get more expensive plans.
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Azewilous

Lord Aze

Age 24
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Manhattan, NY
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Posted August 23rd, 2017
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7.2 Years
I use Comcast XFINITY, I believe this happened to me once where I went over the 250 GB cap. Now I should be in the clear since recently getting their TV Plan, however I thought that large TV providers would have contracts with some of these large media streamers.

Maki-Nishikino

Banned

Age 33
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Gladstone, mo
Seen July 16th, 2020
Posted September 28th, 2019
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15.6 Years
Speaking of data caps, I believe one of the conditions for the Charter/TWC merger is Charter can't put data caps in place for at least 7 years.
from what i have hear and i am a twc customer it is likely gonna be blocked like some previous attempted mergers have

Maki-Nishikino

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Posted September 28th, 2019
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Actually, everything is pointing towards it being approved. FCC chairman approved.
the broadcasters could get there way though they dont want the merger to happen and neither to I that is just asking for a major rates hike and there are other group pressuring them to not allow it to happen the DOJ got involved and was gonna block the comcast time warner merger i would of broken my contract with twc or never got one if that been allowed to happen

Tsutarja

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In the cases of a merger, I'd imagine that everything such as data caps and carriage agreements for television would be handled by whomever is buying and not necessarily who is being bought. Charter is already in the process of buying both Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, so we'll see how it goes.

(truth be told, I wouldn't want to see that happen, because it could almost very well be a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act)

Tsutarja

Age 28
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Florida
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Just because the FCC approves of a merger doesn't mean that it's green-lit. It also has to go through the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice for approval, which is still a chance of approval or denial. If the FTC and/or the DoJ deny the merger (even with FCC approval), then it's called off.

Right now, there are reports circulating that the FTC and DoJ bless the merger, but nothing has been set in stone from either agency to date.

Anyways, please stick to the topic, which is about data caps. If y'all want to discuss the Charter-Time Warner Cable merger, please do so in a new topic. :)