Imagine you’re sleeping on your sofa, enjoying popcorn and watching your favorite series on Netflix, and then an alert in red flashes across your TV’s screen: “You’ve exceeded your data limit for the month.” You can check the new Xfinity Internet Plans and prices for your home.
Data Caps aren’t uncommon; however, due to the global spread of the disease, The Federal Communications Commission has announced the “Keep Americans connected Pledge. The Pledge states that companies are required to waive any fees through Data Caps, open Wi-Fi hotspots to Americans in need, and state that businesses shouldn’t shut down services because of difficulty paying their bills.
This is why the Data Caps enforced by Internet Service Providers (ISP) could be unclear. If you’re not sure the meaning of is a Data Cap is, or you’re wondering if your ISP has changed its terms of the user agreement regarding Data Caps, you are at the right spot.
What is a Data Cap?
Data Cap Data Cap could also be referred to as a “bandwidth cap,” “monthly usage allowance,” or even a fair usage “policy.” It is an ISP’s way of ensuring that no individual is receiving more information, but it’s not always made clear and easy for customers to comprehend.
Imagine this as follows ISP’s have to use a specific bandwidth. Let’s look at the bandwidth in comparison to a highway. The highway permits a certain number of vehicles to travel during the day; however, there’s an increase in traffic during rush hour. If a second lane were built, this would increase the bandwidth.
Since ISP’s don’t have the capacity, they have to limit users by preventing them from accessing the data initially, so they have the Data Cap.
To help put things in perspective, here are the most popular streaming entertainments and the approximate size of their files:
- 1 hour of Chill-Hop tunes streaming – approximately 1.27GB
- 3-minute cat video in 1080p- 83.5MB
- 9-hour audiobook available from Audible at standard resolution 135MB
- 2-hour film in HD Netflix HD2 hours of Netflix HD 4.5GB
- The same 2 hours movie is on Netflix standard quality – 1.5GB
Providers That Have Currently Suspended Data Caps
Since the Federal Communications Commission’s promise has expired since the time it was enacted in March, the ISPs been able to extend the duration of the suspension or raise the Cap on Data Cap to please their customers:
- AT&T
- Sparklight
- Mediacom
- Cox Communications
- All Points Broadband
- Rise Broadband
According to The Houston Chronicle, Comcast Xfinity has recently reinstated its Data Cap. However, they have increased their previous 1 Terabyte limit to 1.2 Terabytes. On their official website, they’re providing essential Internet free to new customers who meet the requirements of low-income customers.
Comcast also offers hotspots for free as part of the Xfinity Internet Service package, which means you can reduce the cost of your wireless bill and use Wi-Fi on the move.
AT&T’s Fiber and AT&T Internet’s Data Cap has been extended until September 30, 2020. “…continue for video conferences as well as binge-watching movies and shows and play video games etc. You won’t be charged excess charges on the home Internet charges,” exclaims AT&T.
They’ve also increased their unlimited plans to 15GB per month. Those in the Navy on their ships can call for free to their bases.
As per Sparklight, after reviewing customer feedback and feedback, they’ve decided to raise the data Cap to between 50 and 300GB at no additional cost, which has been in effect since July 1, 2020.
Mediacom has also followed the same pattern, increasing the size of its Data Cap with 100 extra gigabytes of data starting in September and continuing throughout 2020.
As with Xfinity, Cox Communications offers hotspots for free on the move. They’re also providing ongoing assistance in conjunction with the Federal Communication Commission’s Keep America Connected Pledge. To do this, they’re putting off charges for late-payments and not removing services due to the difficulty of paying. This guarantee is valid through July 31, 2020.
All Points Broadband, the 32nd most popular Internet Service provider, serves approximately 1.6 million customers across the United States.
The website provides packages starting with $79.00 to get their basic package that can download speeds as high as 4Mbps. The ‘living the stream’ package costs $99.00 for speeds up to 8Mbps. The lowest plan has the sole option with the Data Cap of 100GB. Other plans provide unlimitable data.
Rise Broadband is a fixed wireless service that is accessible across 19 states. Small business packages are available speeds as high as 50Mbps, and there is no data Cap! In terms of residential packages, they claim that 90 per cent of their customers don’t exceed their data limit, which is around 100GB per month.
Now let’s look at the providers that have Caps on data. Caps.
Which Internet Services Do Have Data Caps?
101 NetLink
The service is only available exclusively in California and serves approximately 181,000 customers. The plans offered are $75.00 a month for 25Mbps, with a 20GB Data Cap. A second option is $115.00 per month for 25Mbps and 150GB of Data Cap. They also offer residential and business Internet. Prices can vary based on the region in California, so make sure to visit their website.
Armstrong
Armstrong provides Cable, Fiber, and DSL Internet. Armstrong is the 15th biggest Internet service provider within the United States, mainly serving Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland. Prices start at $69.95 per month for 300Mbps. There’s no cost for installation, and they also offer an offer rate of $91.95 per month for six months. The data cap is 2,000GB per month.
Ayera Technologies, Inc.
Ayera provides services to approximately 951,000 customers in the sunny State of California. With speeds of download up to 10Mbps, you’ll have to pay $79.00 per month. And for $119.00 per month, you’ll receive speeds up to 20Mbps. The modem comes with it, and the setup fee is $99.00. Ayera Technologies Data Cap is 1945 GB for a month.
Basin Broadband
Basin Broadband caters to Texans. If you reside in Texas, it is possible to look at their 8Mbps service for $191.00 monthly cost with a 40GB Data Cap, or their $289.00 monthly fee with the same speed 8Mbps however, with an 80GB Data Cap. A one-time $200 installation cost increases to $300 for more rural areas.
Century Link
Century Link is the 3rd most well-known Internet Service provider, available in 14,105 zip codes across the United States. Although Comcast Xfinity requires contracts, Century Link does not, which is why this service could appeal to those who. There are no contracts, and they ensure that you pay the same price each month, and they guarantee it.
Century Link’s plans start at $49 per month, which is excellent for families. It offers speeds up to 100Mbps and comes with a 1 Terabyte Data Cap. The Fiber Gigabit package costs $65and comes with speeds of up to 940Mbps of speed and precisely the same data Cap similar to the earlier plan.
HughesNet
The service offers Satellite Internet to 308.7 million users across all of the United States, and it is also available to Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. They provide what’s known as “binge hours,” which allows 50GB of data between the hours of 2 am between 2 am and 8 pm when users aren’t blocking their network.
Throttling, a technique that can slow down customers’ data after they’ve exceeded their allowance, is used to allow room for other customers who have not yet crossed their limit. There are separate packages to buy if you need more data during any month.
Trimming Your Data
If you’ve chosen the provider who does have Data Cap, What can you do to track and decrease the amount of data you use?
The average person between the ages of 18 and 64 spend a minimum of 4 hours per day, which is 112 hours per month, according to Business Insider. Business Insider. With this year’s COVID-19 pandemic, and the more technological advancements available as never before, the use of data will only increase.
In that regard, there are some sensible ways to cut down on your calorie intake, similar to how some cut down on calories.
One reason is that streaming films in 4K takes around 7.2GB compared to 1080p, which uses 1.5GB. That’s why it is worth considering streaming in 4K at times, for instance, when you’re hosting an evening out with your loved ones.
In the settings of Netflix, you can adjust the quality to lower or standard in place of HD to ensure that the person who uses your Netflix account is automatically using fewer data.
Then, some providers like AT&T has a “data calculator” that lets you determine how much data you’ll use based on factors such as how many emails you’ve sent out, the amount of gaming you play, and the many hours you are spending on the Internet.
This is beneficial as it makes you establish goals and get an overall view of how much time you spend on technology.
While using your smartphone, Always turn off background applications that may be using up your data when you’re not making use of these apps. It is also possible to see the amount of data used by each application in”settings. This will allow you to decide whether there are any apps that you do not need anymore.
When you download videos or Music instead of streaming them in the cloud, you’ll save lots of data. This is possible with your own iPhone using Settings and clicking on Music. After that, tap on mobile data and disable the feature. You can disable high-quality streaming.
Another way to avoid worrying about Data Caps at all is to register the LLC’s EIN.
Another thing to consider is that you’ll probably utilize more data during weekends, so having that knowledge can help you plan your week around it.
Also, ensure that you know any notices that your Internet Service Provider could be sent to you, particularly for Comcast Xfinity. They’ll send you an individual Comcast email that you might not be aware of.
To Cap or Not to Cap
Whether you opt for a well-known company such as Xfinity Comcast or a no Data Cap company like rising Broadband, Frontier FiOS and Verizon Fios ultimately, you will need to decide according to your personal preferences.
Perhaps you decide to map for your data and work with a Data Cap company, or maybe you’d instead not think about how your data is used.