Exclusive: Cox Planning to Impose Usage Overage Fees

[bananas]

Source: DSL Reports

DSLReports has received information confirming that Cox Communications will be testing overage fees this summer ahead of a potential nationwide deployment. A Cox insider familiar with the cable operator's network management practices says that customers in the company's Cleveland, Ohio market will be informed on May 19 that they'll soon be facing overage fees of $10 for every 50 GB over their usage cap they travel.

From June to September, Cox customers in Cleveland will have their "overage" usage tallied on their bills, but users initially won't be charged. Instead, they'll see the estimated overage fee and an accompanying credit. They'll face the real charges starting in October, according to the insider.

<snip>

In contrast, critics of usage caps and overages often counter that American consumers already pay some of the highest prices for broadband services in the developed world (OECD data), and usage overages aren't about "fairness," they're about protecting TV revenues from the inevitable rise of Internet video. Similarly, consumer advocates have argued that if just "5%" of users are causing problems, why not push those users to business-class tiers, instead of imposing surcharges on your entire userbase?

Insiders say Cox is planning to move forward with usage charges for all of the company's markets depending on the success of (read: customer response to) this initial trial. I've reached out to Cox with request for comment and will update this post accordingly.

Read more: http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Exclusive-Cox-Planning-to-Impose-Usage-Overage-Fees-133775

[TM99]

1. It was nice while it last, eh?

I work from home. I stream music and videos. I am on the highest class tier that Cox currently provides and I only get 400GB of data usage with that.

I routinely go over by 100 to 200GB's easily a month. That would be another damned $40.00 a month on an already outrageously high cable bill just for phone & internet service.

It just keeps getting worse and worst doesn't it?

On Edit - Well, that shows you how much out of the loop I have been the last few months due to the death of my father. My data allowance is now apparently 2TB. That is much better. And while I do not like the idea of caps, I doubt I would ever face them personally.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

3. Hope so. 2TB is the size of my backup drive.

[yeoman6987]

4. I knew this was coming

All those that cut the cord thought they beat the cable company. Not a chance. That's one reason I didn't cut the cord so that some shows I watch will be on demand which does not go against the data. I do watch a fair amount of Netflix, Hulu and Amazon but still will watch cable and On demand as supplement when the data begins. I have comcast and believe in a few years I will have 250 a month. The highest I have gone so far is 211 but I could see myself higher easily. Those without cable will be paying the same as people with cable. I didnt get a landline but still pay the same as all the neighbors with landlines. The system is rigged against us. I feel for those who thought they were going to beat the system.

[gvstn]

2. This has been the plan for a long time.

First they get you to drop you copper phone line. So you are dependent on their service. They own the cable/FIOS wires so no regulations to worry about and they can charge whatever they want. All the broadband lines were paid for by the exorbitant cable bills over the last 30 years.

But they are not going to see their income drop by a quarter to third. (assuming each customer has cable ~$75 and broadband ~$75--if most younger customers forego cable then their income drops by half their cable customers or a quarter of their income.)

Broadband really should be regulated it's as necessary as a phone was back in the day.

[damyank913]

5. How do I find out what my usage is?

[TM99]

6. With Cox, you need to login

to your account on the website.

Then go to Internet Tools. From there, it is Data Usage. You will see a graph of your daily usage during your current billing cycle and a pie chart letting you know how much is used and how much is remaining.

[damyank913]

7. I have cox...

...thanks a lot for the info.

[TM99]

8. Glad I could help. nt