AT&T Internet Users Cry Foul Over New Pricing Structure
from the extortion dept
Fresh off their merger with Comcast, it seems that AT&T Broadband is flexing its newly acquired monopoly muscle. We've already had a few stories about their move to immediately raise rates. Customers of their cable modem service who do not also subscribe to AT&T's cable TV service are suddenly discovering that they're expected to pay a 33% rate hike and they are not happy about it at all. Of course, AT&T/Comcast says it's a completely reasonable business practice. That's true, considering that there's not much in the way of competition around to offer more reasonable rates that would force AT&T/Comcast to be competitive. If this isn't evidence of monopoly powers being excercised, I'm not sure what is.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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This is pretty much a 'I got something you want and these are my rules to acquire it ... don't want it then leave.'
I at least have the option of getting a DSL connection, and did at one time, but you haven't dealt with a monopoly until you've dealt with a baby bell. High price + crappy service. Least with my cable connection I'm getting high price + GREAT service.
And I ain't going back to dial up where I'd have several options but slow slow slow slow slow ......
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It's not just the cable companies
My local cable company charges $45 per month for non-cable subscribers and $35 per month if you already subscribe to cable TV.
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Re: It's not just the cable companies
I was told by all the DSL outfits including Ameritech that nobody could get me DSL unless I had a land-line Ameritech billed me for (the previous owners of my home had 2 land-lines, but we just use mobile phones). Apparently Ameritech's accounting system associates everything with a voice-line and couldn't handle it if I didn't have one they normally billed. I tried to describe to them on the phone that it was insane that their accounting system was keeping them from offering me service, but I gave up after a couple seconds realizing it was pointless.
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