Cable companies raising rates and capping internet usage on clarkhoward.com

Clark despises monopolies. He has a built-in prejudice that makes him automatically expect bad things from them. One of his least favorite monopolies (one that invariably gets some of the lowest score in customer satisfaction ratings) is the cable industry. Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator, is not only raising rates by around 5%, but it's recently begun to put caps on the usage of its Comcast internet service. What's driving this? Clark says to look toward South Korea, which has one of the most advanced internet systems in the world. Younger Koreans no longer subscribe in large numbers to pay television. They watch TV mainly over the internet and on their advanced-technology media phones. Over the next year or two it will become much easier to get internet programming onto your big screen in this country as well. Comcast is very afraid of this trend, and has responded with this cap on internet usage. If you exceed their limit, they'll fire you as a customer. Time Warner Cable is looking at metering internet usage as well.

Even though the US pioneered the web, our internet capacity is now at third world standards. Other countries are much more advanced, and pricing reflects that. For example, Korea's ultra-fast high speed connection costs only about $7 a month - compare that to what you're paying here in the States! You can thank the cable monopolies for that.

What others are saying

cost of unltra fast internet connection
In the Philippines, 18.00 for ultra fast wireless internet connection. Three the times the speed of Comcast.
By alvin maldonado @ 07/29/09 06:37:58 PMreport abuse
spamming & connection limits
I am a new customer of Comcast's 6Mbps Performance plan. I pay $19.99 a month for the first 12 months. After that I am subject to their high regular rates. I've been a happy Earthlink / Mindspring subscriber for the past ten years. The only reason I switched to cable Internet was the realization that even though we have been wired for xDSL since before Bellsouth became AT&T, we were never going to get that kind of connection through Earthlink.

Earthlink has a $10.00 monthly plan called "the Earthlink experience" which permits customers to connect with anyone they like and still keep their email address(es). That is the next thing for me to do.

So far I have not had any problems with my connection. When I signed on I was told I'd have to pay $100.00 refundable deposit to skip giving out my SS#. As it turns out if I am late making any payment for the first 6 months I forfeit that deposit. And they won't show me an online bill statement until after the second month's money is due.

I can pay the whole year out and get my deposit back. Or just the first 7 months. Oh yeah, they are charging me $3.00 per month to rent the modem I paid $99.00 from them to own.

There are other issues to contend with. I am sure I can outwit them. I mean how hard can it be, they're the cable company :)

So, if you're being marked as a spammer why not use the free accounts like Yahoo or Google email or pay $10.00 a month to Earthlink?
By Bruce Berryhill @ 07/28/09 12:23:09 AMreport abuse
Charter Or Dish, No Free Market Here
I've had Charter cable and internet for the last 6 years. My bill in Jan 2008 was $78+taxes for 3MB net and expanded basic cable, no premium channels. I said goodbye to cable tv in July 2008 and now I'm looking at my internet only bill and it is currently $64+tax a month. I wanted to keep the 3MB speeds which were just fine and would of made my bill less than $40, but because I'm now forced to have 5MB as a minimum, I have to pay those rates. So it's either $64 for 5MB, $76 for 10MB or $105 for 16MB. But they tell me if I add a tv package they'll deal. lol Thieves!
By C @ 05/09/09 07:34:18 PMreport abuse
Wireless Internet Cost
$7 a month in korea? We pay $70 a month. Talk about over pricing.
By Scott @ 04/20/09 11:07:10 AMreport abuse
charter
Have not had the "pleasure" of working with COmacast, but Charter has to be the worst. WE "upgraded" to cable internet connection and have been unhappy customers past two years. Despise the company! Consant problems connecting, tech is out our house at least 40 times in past 2 years. THey increased our "bundle" from 100.00 to 180 a month! Insane! They offered us "more channels" on our bundle for a reduced rate of 165 a month. I have finally figured it out...they are selling me this reduced rate and then when time limit is up...they increase the rates! We are shutting down our cable, using old fashioned antena, shutting down land line and moving back to Bellsouth (wasnt crazy about them either). My kids will learn to wathc DVD's more and read more. Goodbye Cable, you will not be missed!
By cassie @ 04/19/09 01:24:31 PMreport abuse
Nowhere to gooooo....
I had been TimeWarner Customer for more than 2 years. I had been happy with the low cost of internet and TV. Now all of oa sudden their bills went up to more than $100 for both the services. Because of the economy I did not get raise at my job, thankfully, I am not laid off yet. Cable companies, still managed to raise their pricing to almost double and more... had to keep young child happy... Where can a person go?
By Poor Father @ 03/29/09 01:47:47 AMreport abuse
Comcast Cable Prices & Service Unconscionable
"Cable operators are blaming the rate increases on a number of things in an effort to hide the underlying cause – the greed of the nation’s most persistent monopolists in the
midst of a costly and anti-consumer merger wave. In keeping with justifications used for previous price hikes, they are blaming programming costs and capital investments needed to make new services available. Those claims simply do not withstand scrutiny. The FCC’s recent Ninth Annual Report On Competition in Video Markets provides all the ammunition needed to shoot these claims down." ~ Source: http://www.consumersunion.org/pdf/CFA103.pdf (Jan., 2003)

I am a person who lives on a low, fixed-income. It appears that Comcast has no regard for that segment of their customer base, other than to offer their 'limited basic' plan which is virtually worthless when it comes to the programming offered. But the predatory conduct in which Comcast engages extends well beyond that group of people. A Google search for "comcast cable tv complaints" bears this out.

I now pay over $60.00/mo. for substandard service, e.g., total outtages of channels, a television picture that is too often 'pixelated' or frozen, wild variations in volume between programming and commercials, and sometimes no sound at all. Complaints to their customer service always result in the problem 'being on my end', or the complaint not being responded to at all. And, from what I understand, another price increase is slated for February 1st.
By Tania R. C @ 01/25/09 10:06:35 AMreport abuse
Monopoly?
This is all ok if you can switch to a provider that doesn't obnoxiously cap internet usage, but what if there is a monopoly in your area? I am being forced to subscribe to a company which is ridiculously overpriced and caps usage at 50 GB a month... 50 GB!?! That's nothing. How do I bypass that?
By KB @ 11/12/08 10:13:37 AMreport abuse
Internet Access.
Used the local phone dialup for years. Now have locally owned wireless internet that is really great, and use MagicJack on it for phone, Less than $1.75 per month prepaid for the next 5 years. Now looking at Satellite TV on PC to eliminate Dish TV. So fed up with them, I am ready to go back to regular antenna and use Netflix for other entertainment. You want to get rid of monopolies, easy, do not patronize them. There are alternatives.
By Fed up in Texas @ 10/08/08 03:38:45 PMreport abuse
Internet access/telephone service
Sprint/Embarq has a monopoly for service in my area and charge an arm and a leg. No one else can come in. I want cheaper and better service. Any ideas? Comcast is no help.
By Fog Horn North @ 09/29/08 04:10:54 PMreport abuse
NEO Comcast
Our internet capacity being to third world standards is no accident. These cable monopolies were set up by our government!
By Cheapo Groovo @ 09/04/08 09:45:47 AMreport abuse
krap-ble
Comcast 'fired' me as a customer becaue my usage exceeded their limit. I guess they do not want customers who are online workers or online college students, as I am both...my limit ran out really fast. Pity, I actualy pay my bills ontime and without any issues. I am a good customer! When I called other companies they were all too happy to have me as a customer, with better rates. Good bye Comcast, Thank you Comcast for making me shop for a better company. Thank you free market system! Thank you capitalism!!
By Jennifer @ 09/03/08 08:00:33 PMreport abuse
Cable TV near it's end
THANK YOU CLARK for initiating this! When cable was $7.00 for basic and $5.00 for each HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, ESPN was not even in around. Want to REALLY know why your cable rates and NFL ticket prices are soooo high? Eliminate ESPN, give ala carte' and let the games begin if cable is to survive it's own demise! I tried satellite for a while but they too tried AOL's tactics of keep the customer at all cost.
By Subdued in Ohio @ 09/03/08 06:26:43 PMreport abuse
Monopoly
How strange that we cannot "privatize" business fast enough in this country when we all know that "privitize" and monopolize go hand in hand.
The fortunate for the megacorporations is that most large business starting up in Iraq is all privatized. This will be great for the corporations but ugly for the Iraqui people. We are exporting this model to the rest of the world.
By Franklin @ 09/03/08 03:18:09 PMreport abuse
cable company monopoly
Government should nationalize cable companys and copy korea.
By louis @ 09/03/08 02:38:33 PMreport abuse
Comcast Email
The other day ComCast turned off my outgoing email. I called them to see what was going on with my service. They said I was exceeding their limit for outgoing email and I was marked as a possible spammer. I am no spammer, just a guy looking for a job in a tough time to do so.
By Scott @ 09/03/08 01:33:58 PMreport abuse

cost of unltra fast internet connection

In the Philippines, 18.00 for ultra fast wireless internet connection. Three the times the speed of Comcast.

By alvin maldonado @ 07/29/09 06:37:58 PMreport abuse

spamming & connection limits

I am a new customer of Comcast's 6Mbps Performance plan. I pay $19.99 a month for the first 12 months. After that I am subject to their high regular rates. I've been a happy Earthlink / Mindspring subscriber for the past ten years. The only reason I switched to cable Internet was the realization that even though we have been wired for xDSL since before Bellsouth became AT&T, we were never going to get that kind of connection through Earthlink.

Earthlink has a $10.00 monthly plan called "the Earthlink experience" which permits customers to connect with anyone they like and still keep their email address(es). That is the next thing for me to do.

So far I have not had any problems with my connection. When I signed on I was told I'd have to pay $100.00 refundable deposit to skip giving out my SS#. As it turns out if I am late making any payment for the first 6 months I forfeit that deposit. And they won't show me an online bill statement until after the second month's money is due.

I can pay the whole year out and get my deposit back. Or just the first 7 months. Oh yeah, they are charging me $3.00 per month to rent the modem I paid $99.00 from them to own.

There are other issues to contend with. I am sure I can outwit them. I mean how hard can it be, they're the cable company :)

So, if you're being marked as a spammer why not use the free accounts like Yahoo or Google email or pay $10.00 a month to Earthlink?

By Bruce Berryhill @ 07/28/09 12:23:09 AMreport abuse

Charter Or Dish, No Free Market Here

I've had Charter cable and internet for the last 6 years. My bill in Jan 2008 was $78+taxes for 3MB net and expanded basic cable, no premium channels. I said goodbye to cable tv in July 2008 and now I'm looking at my internet only bill and it is currently $64+tax a month. I wanted to keep the 3MB speeds which were just fine and would of made my bill less than $40, but because I'm now forced to have 5MB as a minimum, I have to pay those rates. So it's either $64 for 5MB, $76 for 10MB or $105 for 16MB. But they tell me if I add a tv package they'll deal. lol Thieves!

By C @ 05/09/09 07:34:18 PMreport abuse

Wireless Internet Cost

$7 a month in korea? We pay $70 a month. Talk about over pricing.

By Scott @ 04/20/09 11:07:10 AMreport abuse

charter

Have not had the "pleasure" of working with COmacast, but Charter has to be the worst. WE "upgraded" to cable internet connection and have been unhappy customers past two years. Despise the company! Consant problems connecting, tech is out our house at least 40 times in past 2 years. THey increased our "bundle" from 100.00 to 180 a month! Insane! They offered us "more channels" on our bundle for a reduced rate of 165 a month. I have finally figured it out...they are selling me this reduced rate and then when time limit is up...they increase the rates! We are shutting down our cable, using old fashioned antena, shutting down land line and moving back to Bellsouth (wasnt crazy about them either). My kids will learn to wathc DVD's more and read more. Goodbye Cable, you will not be missed!

By cassie @ 04/19/09 01:24:31 PMreport abuse

Nowhere to gooooo....

I had been TimeWarner Customer for more than 2 years. I had been happy with the low cost of internet and TV. Now all of oa sudden their bills went up to more than $100 for both the services. Because of the economy I did not get raise at my job, thankfully, I am not laid off yet. Cable companies, still managed to raise their pricing to almost double and more... had to keep young child happy... Where can a person go?

By Poor Father @ 03/29/09 01:47:47 AMreport abuse

Comcast Cable Prices & Service Unconscionable

"Cable operators are blaming the rate increases on a number of things in an effort to hide the underlying cause – the greed of the nation’s most persistent monopolists in the
midst of a costly and anti-consumer merger wave. In keeping with justifications used for previous price hikes, they are blaming programming costs and capital investments needed to make new services available. Those claims simply do not withstand scrutiny. The FCC’s recent Ninth Annual Report On Competition in Video Markets provides all the ammunition needed to shoot these claims down." ~ Source: http://www.consumersunion.org/pdf/CFA103.pdf (Jan., 2003)

I am a person who lives on a low, fixed-income. It appears that Comcast has no regard for that segment of their customer base, other than to offer their 'limited basic' plan which is virtually worthless when it comes to the programming offered. But the predatory conduct in which Comcast engages extends well beyond that group of people. A Google search for "comcast cable tv complaints" bears this out.

I now pay over $60.00/mo. for substandard service, e.g., total outtages of channels, a television picture that is too often 'pixelated' or frozen, wild variations in volume between programming and commercials, and sometimes no sound at all. Complaints to their customer service always result in the problem 'being on my end', or the complaint not being responded to at all. And, from what I understand, another price increase is slated for February 1st.

By Tania R. C @ 01/25/09 10:06:35 AMreport abuse

Monopoly?

This is all ok if you can switch to a provider that doesn't obnoxiously cap internet usage, but what if there is a monopoly in your area? I am being forced to subscribe to a company which is ridiculously overpriced and caps usage at 50 GB a month... 50 GB!?! That's nothing. How do I bypass that?

By KB @ 11/12/08 10:13:37 AMreport abuse

Internet Access.

Used the local phone dialup for years. Now have locally owned wireless internet that is really great, and use MagicJack on it for phone, Less than $1.75 per month prepaid for the next 5 years. Now looking at Satellite TV on PC to eliminate Dish TV. So fed up with them, I am ready to go back to regular antenna and use Netflix for other entertainment. You want to get rid of monopolies, easy, do not patronize them. There are alternatives.

By Fed up in Texas @ 10/08/08 03:38:45 PMreport abuse

Internet access/telephone service

Sprint/Embarq has a monopoly for service in my area and charge an arm and a leg. No one else can come in. I want cheaper and better service. Any ideas? Comcast is no help.

By Fog Horn North @ 09/29/08 04:10:54 PMreport abuse

NEO Comcast

Our internet capacity being to third world standards is no accident. These cable monopolies were set up by our government!

By Cheapo Groovo @ 09/04/08 09:45:47 AMreport abuse

krap-ble

Comcast 'fired' me as a customer becaue my usage exceeded their limit. I guess they do not want customers who are online workers or online college students, as I am both...my limit ran out really fast. Pity, I actualy pay my bills ontime and without any issues. I am a good customer! When I called other companies they were all too happy to have me as a customer, with better rates. Good bye Comcast, Thank you Comcast for making me shop for a better company. Thank you free market system! Thank you capitalism!!

By Jennifer @ 09/03/08 08:00:33 PMreport abuse

Cable TV near it's end

THANK YOU CLARK for initiating this! When cable was $7.00 for basic and $5.00 for each HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, ESPN was not even in around. Want to REALLY know why your cable rates and NFL ticket prices are soooo high? Eliminate ESPN, give ala carte' and let the games begin if cable is to survive it's own demise! I tried satellite for a while but they too tried AOL's tactics of keep the customer at all cost.

By Subdued in Ohio @ 09/03/08 06:26:43 PMreport abuse

Monopoly

How strange that we cannot "privatize" business fast enough in this country when we all know that "privitize" and monopolize go hand in hand.
The fortunate for the megacorporations is that most large business starting up in Iraq is all privatized. This will be great for the corporations but ugly for the Iraqui people. We are exporting this model to the rest of the world.

By Franklin @ 09/03/08 03:18:09 PMreport abuse

cable company monopoly

Government should nationalize cable companys and copy korea.

By louis @ 09/03/08 02:38:33 PMreport abuse

Comcast Email

The other day ComCast turned off my outgoing email. I called them to see what was going on with my service. They said I was exceeding their limit for outgoing email and I was marked as a possible spammer. I am no spammer, just a guy looking for a job in a tough time to do so.

By Scott @ 09/03/08 01:33:58 PMreport abuse

Listen Live:

Clark On Demand:

Clark's Advice:

Consumer Action Center:

Quick Links:

Clark Media:

Call The Show:

Sep 02, 2008 -- Cable companies raising rates and capping internet usage

What others are saying