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Comcast: The Don’t Care Bears are back for more
Comcast broadband only customers in select markets will soon be paying $74.95 a month for Comcast’s 25 Mbps internet service, the lowest-priced internet-only tier that achieves the FCC’s broadband speed standard.
Comcast is among the top cable operators under pressure from Wall Street analysts who argue broadband service is too cheap for a limited competition marketplace, and they have urged providers to raise prices to as much as $90 a month to take advantage of higher revenue possible from a service many consider an essential utility.
Most cable operators are reserving their largest rate hikes for internet-only customers who do not subscribe to a television and/or phone package. Companies hope to recapture some of their lost TV revenue by charging broadband-only customers premium pricing.
Comcast’s Performance tier, priced at $64.95 a month for much of 2017, has already increased to $69.95 in many markets in late 2017. The Comcast website now prices that tier, delivering 25 Mbps service, at $74.95 a month after any promotions expire. An additional modem rental fee of $11 a month also applies if you do not own your own equipment.
The rate changes are all part of Comcast’s annual rate hike parade (noticed by DSL Reports), which gradually rolls across the country and Comcast’s many service areas. Here is an example of a rate hike notice impacting most services in northern New Jersey:
Comcast rates for Performance (25 Mbps) tier, as found on Comcast’s website.
This just goes to prove my previous point.. People are soo worried, and making a big deal about them dropping net neutrality, but the fact that it does nothing to keep prices affordable, is a major problem. Yes, neutrality is good.. But the fact is, if people can not afford the internet, then what good is net neutrality, if people have to drop the internet because they can not afford it. It is like worrying about the price of pineapple in Hawaii.. If most people never go there, it kind of makes it pointless.. and if most people have to… Read more »
This is actually inaccurate. Yes, the performance internet did increase in pricing, however it also increased in speed from 25 to 60mbps. The performance starter increased from 10 to 25mbps and runs $49.95, so actually Comcast lowered the price of its 25mbps package by $15.
Comcast has increased the speed of Performance Starter in select markets, but not all, and still advertises up to 10 Mbps speed in many areas, which is below broadband speed. Also, the $49.95 price you noted is restricted on Comcast’s website, most notably as available only to new residential customers: “Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to Performance Starter Internet service. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after the promo. Pricing subject to change. Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined… Read more »
“Also, the $49.95 price you noted is restricted on Comcast’s website, most notably as available only to new residential customers:” This is incorrect. $49.95 is the regular every day price for Performance Starter internet which is available to any customer (new or existing). The verbiage you cited “Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to Performance Starter Internet service. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after the promo. Pricing subject to change. Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers.… Read more »
This post is misleading for a variety of reasons. Comcast has different prices (and different speeds, package names, etc.) in its different regions. So the implication that this applies nationally to all Comcast customers is wrong. As others have commented, the price of 25 Mbps internet (regular, non-discount) is already $75/month in my area. It is actually one of the few services that will not see a price increase in 2018. This post claims “Comcast’s Performance tier, priced at $64.95 a month for much of 2017, has already increased to $69.95 in many markets in late 2017. The Comcast website… Read more »
Are you serious? That is all you have done is to defend Comcast! First, you nitpick and create arguments about claims the author never even made. For instance, the author specificially wrote “in many areas” — not all. You don’t read very well. Nowhere in the article does he say this applies to all Comcast customers nationwide. In fact, he wrote “Select markets”! Second, nobody here commented that the price went up to $75 already. Where are those comments? In fact, the author got the story exactly right for me, and that is the only person I can answer for.… Read more »
Yes jeffblake I am very serious. You’ve got quite a bit to respond to so here goes one-by-one. Q1-“First, you nitpick and create arguments about claims the author never even made. For instance, the author specificially wrote “in many areas” — not all. You don’t read very well. Nowhere in the article does he say this applies to all Comcast customers nationwide. In fact, he wrote “Select markets”! *I didn’t say that he said it applies to all markets. The actual wording (if you read my post, speaking of not reading very well) was “So the implication that this applies… Read more »
Where and when can we protest?
I suggest a one day “black out” of all services
I do not think that a 1 day blackout would do anything.. But, if everyone in that area had their service stopped.. even for one month, then that “would” open some eyes.. And just think.. Stop all services for a month, then sign back up, and guess what.. New customer rates.. so they loose 1 full months income in those areas, plus, then they have to give 20 to 30 dollars off every month, for the next year on top of it.. With that kind of a discount, who cares if you had to pay for a connection fee.. It… Read more »