Data caps reflect “highly competitive environment,” cable lobby tells FCC.

Summary

Under incoming FCC Chair Brendan Carr, plans to regulate broadband data caps are likely to end.

ISPs argue caps offer affordable options and promote fair pricing, while consumer groups claim they are unnecessary, harmful to low-income households, and purely profit-driven.

Critics point out that data caps don’t manage network congestion and were suspended during the pandemic without issues.

Supporters insist caps are needed for pricing flexibility and to avoid higher costs for low-data users.

The debate continues, with no regulation expected under the new FCC leadership.

  • @kryptonianCodeMonkey
    68•1 month ago

    Guys they really really just want to be able to lower their prices but we just. won’t. let. them. Gee gosh, guys. Think of the ISPs and their sweet little hearts. They totally won’t offer discounted low-cap options that then rake in record profits from overage fees from low-income households, guys! They promise!

  • @resetbypeer
    17•1 month ago

    Good for what exactly? Net neutrality is a guarantee all traffic is treated equal. Like I will prioritize xitter over other services ? Heck even a reason to start blocking it under the excuse of “to preserve network performance and experience”

  • @Telodzrum
    15•1 month ago

    Usenet and an on-site NAS agree with me, any data cap below 10 TB/mo. is a non-starter.

  • @[email protected]
    4•1 month ago

    Rosenworcel is chairperson until July, so why don’t they try to eliminate them anyway (or at any point since she took over in 2020)? Seems disingenuous to claim the new guy is going to stop the removal of data caps when the current leadership hasn’t done it either. I’ll have had to pay $1800 to Comcast to remove my data cap over the course of her 5 year term as FCC chair.

  • @jordanlund
    -41•1 month ago

    I can say I finally had the option to move from an ISP with data caps (Comcast) to an ISP without data caps (Quantum Fiber) and since switching, I’ve had more outages in 2 months than in 10+ years on Comcast.

    I’m sure it’s more the ISP than the data caps…

    Edit: Just got up this morning, down again. 3rd time in 2 weeks.

    • Semi-Hemi-LemmygodEnglish
      39•1 month ago

      If we’re collecting anecdata: My unlimited fiber company (Verizon) hasn’t had an outage in four years

      • lychee🍒English
        10•1 month ago

        Same. And I’ll chalk this up to there being multiple providers (fiber and broadband) in my area so no one can really afford to be too sloppy

      • @jordanlund
        9•1 month ago

        I wish I could get Verizon fiber. :(

    • @[email protected]
      7•1 month ago

      My unlimited fiber hasn’t been down, local company, charter and Comcast both have been down several times this last month.