US ISPs Drop Usage Caps, Pledge To Avoid Kicking Users Offline During Coronavirus

techdirt ^ | 3-17-2020 | Karl Bode

[TaxPayer2000]

While it required some nudging, several of the nation's biggest ISPs this week announced they would be suspending their usage caps and overage fees as millions of Americans prepare to hunker down to slow the spread of COVID-19. Comcast, AT&T, and Centurylink all stopped imposing such limits for at least the next 90 days. Critics (and even leaked Comcast memos) have long made it clear such restrictions (particularly on fixed line networks) aren't technically useful in managing congestion as the industry once claimed, and are little more than glorified price hikes on captive customers.

The speed at which such restrictions were dispatched (during a time when overall bandwidth consumption is up, no less) supports industry executive claims that such limits are arbitrary, confusing, and unnecessary.

That said, numerous ISPs say they're taking additional steps to ensure users can stay online during the outbreak. For example, a coalition of several dozen ISPs struck a voluntary "Keep Americans Connected Pledge" that they wouldn't kick users offline during the outbreak for lack of payment due to Coronavirus, and wouldn't impose late fees either. From the FCC announcement:

"Given the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on American society, [[Company Name]] pledges for the next 60 days to:

(1) not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic;

(2) waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic; and

(3) open its Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them.

To be clear, this is a good thing. Those struggling during the obvious economic difficulties to come should not be kicked offline during a pandemic. That said, this is all voluntary and there's no genuine legal mandate for ISPs to do follow up. Given this FCC's tendency toward giving industry a pass for pretty much anything, it's unlikely it would penalize any ISP for non-compliance barring the most obvious instances of attention-grabbing misbehavior. At lobbyist behest, the FCC has stripped away much of its industry oversight as it applies to everything from sneaky fees to transparent billing, making this sort of thing notably more difficult to actually police.

Again, that's not to say that much of these efforts won't be a good thing in the weeks or months to come. Comcast and Spectrum in particular lay claim to tens of thousands of hot spots across the United States, and opening them up to the general public should prove greatly beneficial. Especially if the nation's libraries -- often the first place lower income Americans go to connect to the internet -- are forced to close their doors. Other ISPs, like T-Mobile, have announced they're effectively getting rid of caps and will be giving all of the company's customers unlimited data:

Starting now - ALL current T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers who have plans with data will have unlimited smartphone data for the next 60 days (excluding roaming).

Providing T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot / tethering service for the next 60 days – coming soon.

In the weeks and months to come, Americans will face notable financial hardships as the country struggles with business closures as the country attempts to "flatten the curve." At the very least, they won't have to worry about usage restrictions and consumption fees that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

[irishjuggler]

U.S.A., U.S.A.,U.S.A.

[LegendHasIt]

" open its Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them. "

How are they going to know they are Americans? I don't remember having to show citizenship proof when signing up for an account, much less when connecting through a hotspot.

That said: Thank you to providers who do this. I get kinda nervous when I can't connect to the internet, and know well what is like to be on a metered connection

[The Great RJ]

Noticed my home DSL connection now zips rather than slowing to rigor mortis speed when watching streaming movies. Even public wi-fi seems faster. Still waiting for an all fiber optic ISP to come to my neighborhood. Idiotic city handed out franchises to Comcast and Century Link making them our only choices and stymied new providers from entering the city.

[minnesota_bound]

The speeds you get have been going way up since Net Neutrality was defeated during Trumps presidency.
ATT is advertising in Los Angeles area 1gb for just $39.95. Spectrum (Time Warner) similar rate. I get 70mb now about that price.

If gov’t were in charge the speed would be much lower and those ISP companies bribing the politicians the most would be able to lock out competitors or people and lowering the speeds of sites that they did not control.

Much like today Facebook, Twitter, Disqus etc ban or shadow ban people and their opinions they do not like.

[catnipman]

comcast has been my isp ever since high speed internet was available to my home because it’s my only choice ... but even though we stream lots of movies, not once have i ever been aware of a usage “cap” ...