jpkjeff

join:2012-02-09

Oklahoma City, OK jpkjeff Member How Long Before AT&T Does The Same Thing? I predict within the next month...they are already trying to charge me $10.00 every time I go over 150GB of data, but so far have credited the charge back when I threaten to leave.

25139889 (banned)

join:2011-10-25

Toledo, OH 25139889 (banned) Member Re: How Long Before AT&T Does The Same Thing? no next time they won't credit back to you- they'll simply tell you to go some where else.



And there is nothing stopping them from requiring a dial-tone other providers do it.



zoom314

join:2005-11-21

Yermo, CA zoom314 Member Re: How Long Before AT&T Does The Same Thing? Then He should, If He/She can, move to DSL Extreme, they don't require voice service, unlike stodgy old and greedy(desperate maybe?) Verizon. I pay $32.83 a month on 3M/768K service for Dry Loop DSL.



Orogogus

@biosite.com Orogogus Anon Re: How Long Before AT&T Does The Same Thing? I'm in San Diego, and when I got hit by AT&T's $10 overage fee last month I dumped them and was looking at DSL Extreme, but they told me where I live I had to get a landline from AT&T, for what I have to assume are technical reasons. The numbers didn't add up, so I switched to Time Warner Cable instead.



I use a prepaid line for my phone needs, and a landline is worth maybe $5/month to me. The minimum cost of a landline from AT&T was $25/month. The DSL line from AT&T was $20/month -- and that was after I had haggled them down from $30/month -- before the $10 overage fee. TWC charges $30/month with no cap, so I jumped.



skeechan

Ai Otsukaholic

Premium Member

join:2012-01-26

AA169|170 skeechan to zoom314

Premium Member to zoom314

No dry loop DSLx with AT&T, at least in California. You have to have AT&T voice to get DSLx here.



djrobx

Premium Member

join:2000-05-31

Valencia, CA djrobx to jpkjeff

Premium Member to jpkjeff

said by jpkjeff: I predict within the next month...they are already trying to charge me $10.00 every time I go over 150GB of data, but so far have credited the charge back when I threaten to leave.

Probably not long. AT&T started offering naked DSL as a condition of the BellSouth merger. They were required to continue doing it for 30 months, and this was over 5 years ago.

25139889 (banned)

join:2011-10-25

Toledo, OH 25139889 (banned) Member Re: How Long Before AT&T Does The Same Thing? the requirement of the BS merger doesn't apply any longer as that is done and over with.



And at this point the FCC will do what ever T tells them or they'll go to court over it.



ATT will move to this next. You don't think they're going to give up that extra $20+ a month that they can have?

tkdslr

join:2004-04-24

Pompano Beach, FL 1 edit tkdslr Member Re: How Long Before AT&T Does The Same Thing? I beat them to the punch... well not really..



AT&T screwed up my bundled aDSL/phone service by deploying a bunch of double pair Uverse customers on my street. My aDSL S/N fell like a rock along with my data rates.



So I just dumped them both(3/15), both the Landline and aDSL are no more. Now I use wireless for both and save close to $60 a month



trparky

CYA! I'm gone!

Premium Member

join:2000-05-24

Cleveland, OH trparky Premium Member Re: How Long Before AT&T Does The Same Thing? I could've told them that this was going to happen. Multiple uVerse customers in the same bundle is going to play havoc with the S/N ratios.



DSL is picky about line conditions already, especially VDSL and ADSL on longer loops. Add in a dozen uVerse VDSL lines in the same bundle and I can't help but to think that even those uVerse lines must have some nasty S/N ratios.



Can't believe that they are going to continue with this strategy. It has epic failure written all over it. Should've went FTTH, but no... can't do that, that's costs too much. Our investors are too stupid to allow us to do that.

88615298 (banned)

join:2004-07-28

West Tenness 88615298 (banned) to jpkjeff

Member to jpkjeff

In my area I doubt at&t does this. We have Charter as competition. Charter is already cheaper and faster than at&t. So forcing people to also have a phone line will only push even more people to Charter.

jim302

Premium Member

join:2006-04-15

Holly Springs, NC jim302 Premium Member Makes the cable company happy This will just drive more people to cable (if available). No cable company I'm aware of forces you to bundle services if you don't want to (of course they offer discounts for bundling).



I wonder if one can order a second DSL only line and use a load balancing router or just run two separate home networks (something that AT&T no longer allows for residential customers period, regardless of whether or not a land line is on the account).



bdnhsv

join:2012-01-20

Huntsville, AL bdnhsv Member Re: Makes the cable company happy The cable bundle is essentially the same thing - just worded differently. The cable guys first would require you have basic service, and then they changed that to you have to pay an access fee (which was the same or more than basic cable). Now they just "reward" you for having a bundle of services.

25139889 (banned)

join:2011-10-25

Toledo, OH 25139889 (banned) Member Re: Makes the cable company happy not really the same thing. POTS is a LOT more than that extra $10 a month that the MSO charges.



bdnhsv

join:2012-01-20

Huntsville, AL bdnhsv Member Re: Makes the cable company happy I don't know who your cable company is, but here where I live CMCST charges $21.95 per month for basic, and that includes about 15 channels (including local, CSAPN, home shopping, tv guide, PEG/local school/local gov't). Having said that I have their $70 or $80 tv package (digital starter I think it's called). So, I would just say that it's not a comparable amount of money to get the basic only package as opposed to a local only POTS line in some places.

25139889 (banned)

join:2011-10-25

Toledo, OH 25139889 (banned) Member Re: Makes the cable company happy It's not about what they charge for basic. It's about the extra fee they charge for not having TV.



And I have Buckeye. CMST does NOT charge $21 a month for not having TV with HSI. It's more like $10-12 extra. The same as TWC and the others.



bdnhsv

join:2012-01-20

Huntsville, AL bdnhsv Member Re: Makes the cable company happy This is from the pop up window that appears when I choose "performance internet service" from their website. I cut a lot of verbiage off from the top and bottom of this that I didn't think was relevant (but you can go check it out for yourself).



*********************************************************

After 12 months, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular charges apply. Comcasts current monthly service charge for Performance ranges from $42.95 to $62.95, and may vary depending on your area and other Comcast services (if any) received.

*********************************************************

fiberguy2

My views are my own.

Premium Member

join:2005-05-20 fiberguy2 to 25139889

Premium Member to 25139889

said by 25139889: It's not about what they charge for basic. It's about the extra fee they charge for not having TV.



And I have Buckeye. CMST does NOT charge $21 a month for not having TV with HSI. It's more like $10-12 extra. The same as TWC and the others.





Let me correct you. Internet service is about $54.95 a month. That is the price. That is how it's rate disclosed. That's the normal price of internet. If you subscribe (bundle) then you get a DISCOUNT.. say that with me.. "DISCOUNT" on internet service.



I never ceases to amaze me how everyone looks at the lowest printed price and believes anything above that is a penalty.



However, as you call it "a fee".. I have yet to, this day, ever see a line item that says "Non-TV subscriber FEE" on the bill.. do they? Is there a rate disclosure line item that says "Non-TV subscriber FEE"...?



I just can't get it in my head this society we live in where discounts are some how evil. What "extra fee" do they charge you for internet when you don't subscribe to TV?Let me correct you. Internet service is about $54.95 a month. That is the price. That is how it's rate disclosed. That's the normal price of internet. If you subscribe (bundle) then you get a DISCOUNT.. say that with me.. "DISCOUNT" on internet service.I never ceases to amaze me how everyone looks at the lowest printed price and believes anything above that is a penalty.However, as you call it "a fee".. I have yet to, this day, ever see a line item that says "Non-TV subscriber FEE" on the bill.. do they? Is there a rate disclosure line item that says "Non-TV subscriber FEE"...?I just can't get it in my head this society we live in where discounts are some how evil.



dvd536

as Mr. Pink as they come

Premium Member

join:2001-04-27

Phoenix, AZ dvd536 to 25139889

Premium Member to 25139889

said by 25139889: not really the same thing. POTS is a LOT more than that extra $10 a month that the MSO charges.

yup. thats why they want it and all the unfees associated with it!

BiggA

Premium Member

join:2005-11-23

Central CT BiggA Premium Member Re: Makes the cable company happy Actually, Verizon has plans at around $6 and $12, plus taxes and fees. Very, very basic plans, but they would work to get DSL. So it pretty much is the same thing.



Morac

Cat god

join:2001-08-30

Riverside, NJ Morac Member Re: Makes the cable company happy said by BiggA: Actually, Verizon has plans at around $6 and $12, plus taxes and fees. Very, very basic plans, but they would work to get DSL. So it pretty much is the same thing.

Verizon doesn't advertise those plans and will barely acknowledge they exist if you call them. Also it's the taxes and fees that make POTS expensive. The fees can be upwards of $10 a month.

BiggA

Premium Member

join:2005-11-23

Central CT BiggA Premium Member Re: Makes the cable company happy So that's $16/mo, or $1 more than Comcast's de-bundling fee. Don't get me wrong, I think those fees should be illegal, but they all do it.



rchandra

Stargate Universe fan

Premium Member

join:2000-11-09

14225-2105 ARRIS ONT1000GJ4

EnGenius EAP1250

rchandra to bdnhsv

Premium Member to bdnhsv

Well...it's more like leasing the medium (the outside plant). They want to be compensated for maintenance on the outside plant, same as the phone company. It's just that telcos are IMHO a lot more greedy about it, and rake in all that FUSF money. Not only that, I was pretty sure their rates are regulated (at least in NYS). I can't imagine Verizon for example would charge less than the ceiling price.



My memory is a bit fuzzy on it, but I recall the voice service was on the order of $35 for me. But that was probably in my era where I had flat rate service, because that was when I first got DSL, and was still making modem calls. It was somewhat less for pay-per-call, perhaps $25. This was before Verizon offered dry loop DSL, so voice service was required. (Eventually they pissed me off, and I went Adelphia Power Link (which became Roadrunner).)



MovieLover76

join:2009-09-11

Cherry Hill, NJ ·Verizon FiOS

(Software) pfSense

Asus RT-AC68

Asus RT-AC66

1 recommendation MovieLover76 to bdnhsv

Member to bdnhsv

Verizon FIOS does the same thing but like cable, but worse. internet access only is very expensive $55 a month for the lowest tier



But when you bundle it with TV it drops to $35 and that's for the second teir 25/25, TV Costs $60 for the second rate plan Extreme HD.



The real kicker is at least for the first two years if you choose not to take the phone service the entire package is $10 more than if you take it because of all of the triple play savings, I figure their idea is that you take the home phone and then after your promotional savings are over your more inclined to keep the home phone service for $30 a month since you already have it.



Still I wanted both TV and Internet so I just took the phone to save $10 and it's a good deal for what I wanted.

I might just drop the phone after two years.

BiggA

Premium Member

join:2005-11-23

Central CT BiggA Premium Member Re: Makes the cable company happy FIOS is amazing. Where else are you going to get a 25/25 connection? And their TV service is the best, so bundling it is no big deal.



Ericthorn

It only hurts when I laugh

Premium Member

join:2001-08-10

Paragould, AR Ericthorn to jim302

Premium Member to jim302

I live in hillbillyville, and our cable company forces us to have basic cable TV if we want internet service. Obviously that isn't the norm. Simply a cash grab.



r81984

Fair and Balanced

Premium Member

join:2001-11-14

Katy, TX r81984 Premium Member Re: Makes the cable company happy said by Ericthorn: I live in hillbillyville, and our cable company forces us to have basic cable TV if we want internet service. Obviously that isn't the norm. Simply a cash grab.



I am stuck with some shitty apt complex cable service.

2 years ago it was $50 a month, then they got bought out by another shitty apt complex cable company and they upped the bill for the exact same service to $100 a month.

The bill literally reads like $60 + $40 in itemized fees.

I canceled cable once they did this. What do they charge for the cableTV.I am stuck with some shitty apt complex cable service.2 years ago it was $50 a month, then they got bought out by another shitty apt complex cable company and they upped the bill for the exact same service to $100 a month.The bill literally reads like $60 + $40 in itemized fees.I canceled cable once they did this.



MovieLover76

join:2009-09-11

Cherry Hill, NJ ·Verizon FiOS

(Software) pfSense

Asus RT-AC68

Asus RT-AC66

MovieLover76 Member Re: Makes the cable company happy I wouldn't move into an apartment that forced me to use one service, I know it is legal but I'm not sure why it seems that it should be illegal to me.



If it was Verizon FIOS I'd probably make an exception because that's my current service and it's great.



r81984

Fair and Balanced

Premium Member

join:2001-11-14

Katy, TX r81984 Premium Member Re: Makes the cable company happy said by MovieLover76: I wouldn't move into an apartment that forced me to use one service, I know it is legal but I'm not sure why it seems that it should be illegal to me.



If it was Verizon FIOS I'd probably make an exception because that's my current service and it's great.



Originally the apartment cable was cheaper than anyone else. The cable internet always sucked, but you could get ATT dsl so that was not an issue.



Now that ATT has caps, I am screwed no matter what.

$100 a month for cable is insane, so my only option would be a dish. Good luck with finding that.Originally the apartment cable was cheaper than anyone else. The cable internet always sucked, but you could get ATT dsl so that was not an issue.Now that ATT has caps, I am screwed no matter what.$100 a month for cable is insane, so my only option would be a dish.



Ericthorn

It only hurts when I laugh

Premium Member

join:2001-08-10

Paragould, AR Ericthorn to r81984

Premium Member to r81984

We have to pay 24.95 for basic cable (btw I live in a house - our whole town is subjected to this) in order to get internet. Our internet is 62.95/mo for a 4mb/1mb connection, and that is what they call their 'business' class. It's one of the worst services and pricing in the area, but we like our house and the location, so we deal with it.

BiggA

Premium Member

join:2005-11-23

Central CT BiggA to Ericthorn

Premium Member to Ericthorn

That's all of Comcast.

your moderator at work hidden : Off topic

rocafellanrd

join:2009-05-04 rocafellanrd to jim302

Member to jim302

The new "monopoly" is the duopoly ladies and gents. This is going to deter people from canceling there accounts because grandpa will die. Look at what is happening to those grandfathered ATT wireless people.



Either you stick with cable and let them rape you or you go with DSL, let VZ rape you, while they force you to rape your self.



Dust off the HTPC's and find a way to lower that wireless bill if you expect to keep paying for these services.



pende_tim

Premium Member

join:2004-01-04

Andover, NJ 1 recommendation pende_tim Premium Member I got the e-mail today Verizon sent me the e-mail today Karl is referencing. What a bunch of IDIOTS.



It costs them almost nothing to continue to provide DSL to a customer once it is setup and running. Since the physical plant needs to be in place to provide phone service to anyone who may want it, why not just take what you can get from a customer and give them DSL if that is what they want. Some money is better than none! In fact they already charge more for a dry loop than a DSL loop + voice.



Since DSL is a poor option for anyone who needs a lot of speed, you would think they would be trying to make it easy and attractive to keep customers, but I guess not.



What this will mean is the copper will continue to deteriorate as more and more of it will sit un-used and un-needed and as a result un-maintained.



With FIOS expansion all but dead, it looks like Verizon it trying to push customers to cable. Why of course, they have a deal with the cable co now don't they?

Crookshanks

join:2008-02-04

Binghamton, NY Crookshanks Member New York State Has anybody in NYS received this e-mail? I have not; I know that Verizon tends to (or is forced to?) treat our market differently than others. I'm wondering if this requirement will apply here?



One has to wonder if they'll make any allowance for people with Verizon Wireless service? I have my dry-loop DSL and VZW bills combined onto one bill that comes from Verizon.

rclark

join:2010-08-11 rclark Member Re: New York State said by Crookshanks: Has anybody in NYS received this e-mail? I have not; I know that Verizon tends to (or is forced to?) treat our market differently than others. I'm wondering if this requirement will apply here?



One has to wonder if they'll make any allowance for people with Verizon Wireless service? I have my dry-loop DSL and VZW bills combined onto one bill that comes from Verizon.

I did, i'm just outside Albany NY.



Smith6612

MVM

join:2008-02-01

North Tonawanda, NY Smith6612 to Crookshanks

MVM to Crookshanks

The e-mails they send out tend to take up to a week to fully funnel through their system to everyone.



viperpa33s

Why Me?

Premium Member

join:2002-12-20

Bradenton, FL 1 recommendation viperpa33s Premium Member Free money for Verizon So instead of adding extra fees on your bill, which is a sin these days. They will just now force you to buy something you don't need or want. Verizon knows that a lot of people don't use a landline phone anymore. This is why it makes it so easy for Verizon to implement this. Verizon knows most people won't use it and that translates to free money.



When I had Embarq (Which is now CenturyLink), it was the same way. You couldn't get DSL service without having phone service. Because I had a cellphone, I had no reason to use the landline. Didn't even waste the time or money to even get a landline phone. So Embarq was getting an extra $35 a month from me for non use of services. Why would Embarq complain about free money. The worse thing about it is, they try to sell you phone line insurance on something you won't use.



Sure hope Verizon don't do the same thing with FIOS. I know Verizon is pushing there VOIP service very hard. The Verizon tech who came over my house the other day tried very hard to sell me phone service. In the end, he lost.



compuguybna

join:2009-06-17

Nashville, TN compuguybna Member greedy for Revenue. getting greedy for revenue, that's what it is.

desarollo

join:2011-10-01

Monroe, MI desarollo Member Tying Contract Sounds like a tying contract to me; how it is permitted is a great mystery.



txpatriot

@or.us txpatriot Anon Re: Tying Contract Tying contracts aren't illegal per se, but I agree it sure looks like one.

IONEX

join:2001-12-09

Austin, TX IONEX Member U-Verse In Dallas, even though there are still DSL subscribers at our CO we can no longer signup for it because they service our address with U-Verse as well. So, now if you want the cheaper service that doesn't include a monthly fee for the modem or an installation fee you are SOL...

tmc8080

join:2004-04-24

Brooklyn, NY tmc8080 Member all about the money! verzion is getting too greedy again, I think it's time for regulators to begin taking a look at the state of competition!



a standalone service is getting harder and harder to find under $50, whether is be phone, internet, or cable-tv!!!



cdru

Go Colts

MVM

join:2003-05-14

Fort Wayne, IN cdru MVM Sounds a little like Frontier I recently moved back to Frontier Fios and went just with their internet. I was told in order to get installation waived and the 2 year price lock, I had to have the "security calling" feature for a couple of bucks a month. It's only outgoing 911, no incoming or outgoing to other numbers.



My first bill came and I noticed I also have a $3 charge for an unlisted phone number. For a phone number that I don't have and that I can't receive calls on.



nunya

LXI 483

MVM

join:2000-12-23

O Fallon, MO nunya MVM I re-wrote it! Dear valued customer,



Beginning May 6, 2012 - just get cable.



Sincerely,

Verizon



Bob Elek

@verizon.com Bob Elek Anon This is Bob Elek with Verizon. The vast majority of our DSL customers enjoy it as part of a bundle with reliable home voice and TV service. By bundling, customers receive a better overall experience and value by having multiple services as part of a package.



Our decision to adjust the way we offer DSL service after May 6 more accurately represents the broadband customer base at Verizon. By discontinuing a stand-alone DSL offer after May 6, we can control our cost structure more effectively, enabling us to continue providing competitively priced services to existing and new customers.



New DSL customers going forward will be getting the best value we can offer for the service even with voice added. There will be no changes to service for all existing DSL customers.



Weve proactively provided existing customers a 30-day advance notice to make speed upgrades or downgrades to their existing service if they choose to do so.



rchandra

Stargate Universe fan

Premium Member

join:2000-11-09

14225-2105 ARRIS ONT1000GJ4

EnGenius EAP1250

rchandra Premium Member fees, taxes, unwanted service...gee, lots like cable! I would guess part of it is that it's a numbers game for them. They get to charge fees like the FUSF line charge, all taxes from local up to any federal (isn't there something like a federal excise tax?), and get the float on it between the time they collect to the time they disburse that money. It might not be a whole lot on any one individual subscriber, but multiplied by the many, many ones they have, it'll start to add up. Add in the fact that the likely reason these dry loop sub's are that way is they subscribe to VoIP instead, it's pure profit for them, because basic phone service isn't going to come with any of the "standard" VoIP features: voicemail, three-way, CND, call waiting, etc. They charge up the wazoo for EACH of those features.



Hey, wait a minute! This would seem so similar to cablecos! Think about it! They pack all these channels in which you have absolutely no interest whatsoever into their basic package, and insist they can't really offer it any other way. Not only that, they have a vested interest in offering it to you that way. If you "cut the cord" and only subscribed to their Internet access service, then use only iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Netflix, Sickbeard, etc., you'd be getting what you really wanted by alternate means, and not via their arguably overpriced video service.



I'd also have to say they have chumps for writers if that is indeed exactly as the email was written. Discriminating people know that "Internet" is a proper noun and requires capitalization. As written, that would refer to any kind of internetwork, not necessarily the public Internet.

BiggA

Premium Member

join:2005-11-23

Central CT BiggA Premium Member Comcast is the same They force you to buy basic cable.... or just charge you the $15 basic cable would have been.



Gilitar

join:2012-02-01

Mobile, AL Gilitar Member Regulation is needed The Telcos need to be put back in their place. The government needs to regulate the telcos unfortunately. They can't seem to behave themselves otherwise. If they want to raise prices on DSL that's one thing, but to force/slam voice service down the customers throat is entirely another.



ILEC Insider

@myvzw.com ILEC Insider Anon ILEC Rosetta Stone Here's the deal.



LEC's like Verizon are driven by their wish to be a de-regulated business. Once you understand that basic motivation it becomes the Rosetta Stone by which you can decipher much of the seemingly irrational actions.



For instance, poor DSL customer service drives customers away from the regulated side of the business to either the cable "competition" or their deregulated LTE service where they can charge any price they want.



The rush to abandon copper isn't driven by technology, it's an effort to move away from regulated copper to the de-regulated glass or wireless.



Hope this helps.



Cordially,



ILEC Insider



KrK

Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy

Premium Member

join:2000-01-17

Tulsa, OK Netgear WNDR3700v2

Zoom 5341J

KrK Premium Member So it comes down to this. The push to force you to use their LTE service begins. How long before they just not allow new DSL lines period.



In effect this means that your choices for AFFORDABLE broadband just dropped by one.



Look at it another way: If you're a Cable internet customer, in Verizon's footprint, Verizon has just ok'ed your Cable provider increasing their Internet fee by $20 or so a month... because what are you going to do... switch to Verizon, and still pay more?!?



Of course this is for areas OUTSIDE of FIOS, obviously.



Wow, just wow. The fail state of the lack of competition in the USA just gets better and better.



If they want to act like monopolies, fine, regulate them as one.

chgo_man99

join:2010-01-01

San Jose, CA 360.8 10.3

·Comcast XFINITY

chgo_man99 Member Re: So it comes down to this. But we have no one to represent us in our best interest in Congress. Look at food industry, obesity, recent scandal with pink slime in your favorite meat. It's outrageous! And the middle class in America is shrinking. Middle class steadil pad mor for everything, inflatiOn goes up while companies offshore and lower wages. Once so good called middle class jobs like systems engineering tech support paid decent, now pays close to minimum wage. Many full time employes replaced with contractors with no paid holidays and health insurance. :X



norbert26

Premium Member

join:2010-08-10

Warwick, RI norbert26 Premium Member in a FiOS market I am on grandfathered DSL service. They have stopped offering DSL in some markets (new orders) where your address shows FiOS "available". I did not even get this email. That said i was doing dry loop a few years back however they were charging $10 extra at the time to have dry loop. Billing was direct to a CC only . I later put voice back on so i could use the one bill will my VZW and combine billing. I only have the minimum 90 minute local calling. In fact there is NO phone connected to the line at this time i am using the line solely for DSL.



Even with FiOS i can't order stand alone internet WITHOUT paying for installation and would have to buy their router. On the other hand they will throw all of sweet deals and free equipment and free install when you take TV and phone bundled. I don't need or want phone or TV bundled YET they continue to force these things especially the glorified land line phone nobody wants or uses anymore. With metro PCS and t-mobile cranking out unlimited phone plans everyone has their own personal cell phone now . I won't even get started in the TV area .



IowaCowboy

Supermarket Hero

Premium Member

join:2010-10-16

Springfield, MA IowaCowboy Premium Member Re: in a FiOS market If they offered FiOS where I am at (Springfield, MA) I'd take it in a heartbeat for the HSI and TV offerings but I'd prefer copper for phone as it is the best option for alarm systems.



franknalco

join:2005-01-27

Littleton, CO franknalco Member Business HSI This is a residential customer "feature." Anyone who specifically requires naked DSL can still opt to install as a business account. Of course, the rates are a bit higher, but it does come with a better SLA. Just a thought....