Starting in June, Comcast internet customers in metro Atlanta will no longer have to deal with 300 GB data caps.

This move affects heavy users in its Southeastern market, which includes nine states from Virginia to Florida.

The Philadelphia-based company said it plans to increase its data caps from 300 gigabytes to 1 terabyte. The company said most customers only use about 60 gigabytes of data per month, but that’s changing.

“The internet’s evolved to the point where it’s not just surfing and looking at stocks and shopping,” said Alex Horowitz, a vice president of public relations at Comcast. “Everyone’s got an iPad, kids have iPads. They’re downloading apps, they’re Skyping, so you’re really seeing the need for bandwidth continuing to skyrocket.”

On Monday, the FCC approved a mega-merger between Charter and Time Warner, creating the country’s second-largest cable company. One condition: Charter can’t limit its customers data usage.

Phil Ventimiglia, chief innovation officer at Georgia State University, said he believes increasing the data cap was a proactive move by Comcast, as federal regulators crack down on data caps.

“Data caps are increasingly a real issue as services such as TV and phone migrate to IP-based technologies,” Ventimiglia said. “Comcast is reacting to prevent increased regulation of their internet services as well as potential increased competition, which does not have data caps.”

He also cited Comcast’s announcement last week of an Xfinity TV Partner program, allowing customers to use an app on a Roku or Samsung TV to stream instead of having to use and rent a set-top box from Comcast.

“Similarly, this is Comcast reacting to the increase in streaming but more importantly trying to prevent potential FCC regulation to open up the cable box market,” he said.

Comcast says the move was in response to customer demand and response to their years-long trial in the Southeast. Comcast has had data caps since 2012.

Customers are charged $10 for every 50 gigabytes used over the 300 GB limit on the standard monthly plan.

“For years, that’s been the model in terms of minutes with phones and horror stories of ‘I’m going to get this [multi-thousand-dollar] bill because I didn’t realize I went over my limit’ and now it makes consumers not have to worry about it as much,” Ventimiglia said.

Comcast says 99 percent of its users don’t go over 1 TB, but its now offering its heaviest users an unlimited plan for $50 per month.

It also offers residential customers high-speed fiber Internet service.

Gigabit Pro will cost $299 per month with a $500 installation fee and a $500 activation fee. The promotional price is $159.