Readers: Streaming data caps are unfair

Jefferson Graham | USA TODAY

We now know that cutting the cord doesn't really save us money. Because the same companies selling us the cable also are often our internet providers as well.

And if they can't get you to keep your cable, they'll come up with another plan. Seemingly unlimited data that has data caps. And extra charges.

We wrote about Michael Markman's experience with Comcast this week, and how his virtually non-stop streaming of the new Disney + service resulted in surprise overage nags from Comcast. The company caps monthly usage at 1 terabyte, unless you're willing to fork over another $50 monthly. (Markman already pays $75 monthly for service.)

Most folks don't know what 1 TB of viewing really means, except that they don't think the data caps are fair. We grew up watching TV for hours, without any financial limits, after all.

Shane Walker calls the Comcast fee a "usage tax." On Twitter, he noted, "We need more competition," among internet providers.

This is a big problem for many. Companies like Comcast and Cox Cable are the only option for some in many markets. Here in Los Angeles, where I live, the options in my area are either Spectrum (also known as Charter) or Frontier.

There are other markets with no competition.

Don MacAskill, who lives in the heart of Silicon Valley, says he no alternative, and that his provider Comcast charges him "tons of overage fees every month." He's more frustrated by the lack of choice than the overages and limits, he says.

Every month. No other remotely similar options in my area (Silicon Valley!!), so they charge me tons of overage fees every month. More frustrated by lack of choice than the annoying limits & charges, though I suspect there’s a direct causal relationship there. — Don MacAskill (@DonMacAskill) November 30, 2019

Luke Bouma, editor of CordCuttersNews notes that when there are markets with competition, "the data caps go away."

I exceeded the 'limit' a couple years ago and started logging. Reached out because I had logs to prove - at the modem level - that I didn't use near 1TB of data. Comcast's response was "our tools are sophisticated and you're in the grace period anyway" — Michael J (@ZhemJZ) December 4, 2019

I have been paying the $50 unlimited usage tax to @comcast for more than two years. Supposedly they determine the cap based on average usage of all users but I'll believe it when I see it. We need more competition amongst ISPs. — Shane Walker (@shane_walker) December 4, 2019

Disney+ consumes way more than stated, the very first time I subbed we watched maybe 2 movies and one TV show the mandalorian episode 1 and our data went from 60% to %90 in that day and I don't have a 4k tv. Disney really needs to add the option to adjust quality like others — Eric Davis (@TasukiFB0) December 3, 2019

Comcast and AT&T data caps are so unnecessary. It is an abuse of power by companies who often have de facto monopolies in many of the regions where they operate without any real competition, sometimes with exclusive access to certain HOAs and buildings.https://t.co/f98u6H1RtC — Save Mother Earth (@JohnBrownZion) December 3, 2019

Received the same notice 3 years ago when I was at home with a broken leg & watching Netflix, used two of our extra ‘grace’ extensions. — paige! (@_paiger11) December 3, 2019

Reminder readers: streamers like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video "autoplay" selections, automatically playing the next video in a series, so that you don't have to bother with clicking start again.

But sometimes, when you're done watching, we just click off the TV, and the programs continue playing. We "burn data all night while we're sleeping," notes Markman.

So to stay on top of the data caps and live within the allotment the providers give us, you have two options. Close out of the app altogether before you turn off the TV, or disable autoplay by going into settings and opting out.

You could also go back to cable, but with the new Disney+, and Apple TV+ out now, HBO Max and Peacock coming in the spring, who wants to do that, right?

In other tech news this week

Uber announced that it's received over 3,000 allegations of sexual assault last year. The ride-hailing firm released data on the number of passengers and drivers alleging they've been sexually assaulted in an effort to deflect rising concerns over the safety of the popular ride-hailing service. Of those sexual assaults complaints, 235 were reports of rape in 2018, up from 229 in 2017 and 280 were reports of attempted rape in 2018, down from 307 in 2017.

After 20 + years, the classified website Craigslist finally has a smartphone app. The website, founded in 1995 in the San Francisco Bay Area by Craig Newmark offers a barebones approach to searching for used merchandise, jobs and the like, and the app is no different. "no frills, bells or whistles," write tech news site Gizmodo. "The app’s overall design mimics the website as well, meaning its mostly just text and a clean interface."

Spotify Wrapped is back. The year end tradition lets users of the popular music streaming app look back and listen to their most streamed songs of the year. The list is visible in-app. Just go to search and you'll see Wrapped 2019. It's also available online at Spotify.com/wrapped. This week Apple also announced the best of the year, awarding top app honor to the photo app Spectre Camera and iPad app for Moleskin notebooks. The app trend of the year was storytelling, noted Apple, from the “Anchor” podcasting app to travel stories on "Steller.”

ICYMI: We selected our favorite tech of the year - highlighted by Disney+, along with the tech turkeys. Can you say Apple TV+?

This week's Talking Tech Podcasts

Best Tech of 2019: Hello Disney+

The downside of streaming: higher usage fees

Save money on movies with a really big TV.

Why I made my home "smart"

Get used to wireless charging

Be sure to listen to the Talking Tech podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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