Klarth join:2005-09-16 Joplin, MO ·Mediacom
1 recommendation |
Klarth
Member
2013-Aug-8 12:38 pm
MediacomI think you're giving them too much credit. Shortly after the e-mail notifications started rolling in, the thread popped up here and numerous on Mediacom's support forums. It took a while for their social media team to have their talking points regurgitated to them, but they now include the "This doesn't affect 97% of users" line, showing they went with the approach of claiming if you happen to use Netflix, Hulu, etc instead of Mediacom's content, you're the anomaly.
Additionally, since Mediacom's infrastructure is so underdeveloped in areas, if you can't get their Ultra tier, you are stuck with a much more restrictive cap.
The final gem on the top of this change is that you have to sign up for a separate e-mail address with Mediacom to even view your usage, and so far even know they are making this change (though they have stated they will send snail mail letters at some point). The account that you use to view/pay your bill online is not connected to viewing the meter. |
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and att is not there biggest rival. its frontier in most areas |
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Os
Member
2013-Aug-8 12:46 pm
CenturyLinkCenturyLink is the telco in most of IA (former Qwest). Mediacom owns IA.
Mediacom might be the worst of all the cable companies. Pathetic TV offerings with metered billing. For all the problems with Atlantic Broadband here with their TV, at least they're not metering their customers. Yet. |
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to Klarth
Re: MediacomI think you're giving them too much credit. Shortly after the e-mail notifications started rolling in, the thread popped up here and numerous on Mediacom's support forums. It took a while for their social media team to have their talking points regurgitated to them, but they now include the "This doesn't affect 97% of users" line, showing they went with the approach of claiming if you happen to use Netflix, Hulu, etc instead of Mediacom's content, you're the anomaly. Don't get me wrong, I still think their justifications are crap, they're just slightly less crap than other justifications I've seen, where the carrier insists that paying more "improves your customer experience," or trots out the congestion bogeyman even though the industry itself has admitted congestion isn't an issue and isn't why they're doing this. |
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Klarth join:2005-09-16 Joplin, MO ·Mediacom
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Klarth
Member
2013-Aug-8 1:01 pm
I'm afraid it looks like they have that spell in their deck as well... » Re: 250gb limitI really hope we can at least expose them for this behavior, like I said in the other thread, I doubt they even feel shame at this point. Around here someone that actually utilizes a broadband connection has to deal with the realities of rural cable companies. Even companies like CableOne and Cox have backed off on these caps, but now Mediacom is going the wrong direction. |
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Ubee E31U2V1 (Software) pfSense Netgear WNR3500L
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to GLIMMER
said by GLIMMER: its frontier in most areas In most areas, it depends on whos there. Here, they have 2 areas of service, and one of them has CenturyLink, and the other has Centurylink(labeled Qwest). No one has even heard of AT&T or Verizon DSL up here, and is only familiar with their Wireless services. everyone has heard about how mediacom is the shittiest company around tho. |
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88615298 (banned) join:2004-07-28 West Tenness |
88615298 (banned)
Member
2013-Aug-8 1:14 pm
999 GB more than enoughWhile no caps would be best if one is seriously griping about "only" having 999 GB then perhaps going outside every once in a while would do them good. And their caps for lower speeds are better than what other ISPs with caps offer. Charter gives you 500 GB for their 100 Mbps tier and 250 GB for their 30 Mbps tier. People on still on their grandfathered 15 Mbps or 3 Mbps plans have a 100 GB cap. |
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to Klarth
Re: Mediacom3mbit for 28 a month isn't overly bad and 150 GB isn't so rotten for mid range use as long as you stay with SD video |
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your moderator at work
hidden : Off topic
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1 recommendation |
to Klarth
Re: MediacomToo bad. Never mind then, I'll edit the piece, thanks. Socking customers with these hikes is one thing, but insulting customer intelligence just adds insult to injury. |
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to Karl Bode
...and their tier caps actually scale up with price in a reasonable fashion. You may have to upgrade a tier if you use a lot of data and aren't paying a lot per month, but after 999GB you really want a business class connection anyway, and I'll bet Mediacom would be happy to sell you one.
Any way you slice it, these caps are more sensible than Comcast's various trials, Suddenlink's caps, or TWC's attempts. |
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now they come for your broadbandReady to write your politicians now?
I tend to think some municipalities are waiting to become like Detroit... give in to the special interests so much (whatever they may be) that you leave nothing but a sad state of affairs in its wake.. |
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Iowaman5
Anon
2013-Aug-8 1:43 pm
At least there caps are better than the others.I am on the 50 Mbps and run about 500 to 600 gigs a month. Some of the caps the other cable company's have would kill my bank account. |
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Klarth join:2005-09-16 Joplin, MO ·Mediacom
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to iansltx
Re: MediacomI agree, for what it's worth. Personally, I don't really need a 50mbps line (but respect people who do), but like you say it's the cost you pay for the cap that you do need. I also personally think that 1TB is a reasonable cap (again, your mileage may vary). That part is OK, but the problem is when they don't offer their Ultra tier in many areas (well, that and insulting our intelligence with such transparent lies as to why they are adding caps). Though that said, like you say, there are worse companies out there, for now. |
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to 88615298
Re: 999 GB more than enoughCharter doesn't enforce caps in Wisconsin from what I've seen, I use over 500 gb a month and my family uses over 500 gb a month as well and have never received anything from charter. I have a lot of friends that are heavy users and never have had any cap problems either. |
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to Karl Bode
Re: MediacomAs far as caps, one day, it will be the norm for all companies. What will ISPs do when speeds are so fast, and wireless tech reaches so far, that one subscriber can open his network for his entire street? So, on this persons wifi, hes supplying IPTV / Torrents, data, and VoIP for everyone. Todays speeds are tomorrows dialup, and the ISPs wont be able to allow 1 subscriber on each street.
The only way to prevent such misuse is usage billing.
Breaking a TOS? Yea, that works real well, and good luck enforcing it. |
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1 recommendation |
to Klarth
Whether a cap is "reasonable" doesn't really change the fact that these companies are using a lack of competition to impose rate hikes on already pricey tiers (by global developed country standards). They can already push excessive users on to business tiers. All these caps do is encourage upselling and abuse, especially if your only competitor is a low-quality DSL provider that offers capped 3 Mbps DSL. |
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P NessYou'Ve Forgotten 9-11 Already Premium Member join:2001-08-29 way way out
1 recommendation |
P Ness
Premium Member
2013-Aug-8 1:58 pm
WE have a small amount of people using what they pay for....so we must put a stop to that |
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your moderator at work
hidden : Personal attacks
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to Karl Bode
Re: MediacomWell, yes.
On the bright side, they're mainly competing against providers who have DSL as their bread and butter. Which is more than can be said of the likes of Comcast in many areas (ahem, Verizon). |
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Iowaman5 to P Ness
Anon
2013-Aug-8 2:20 pm
to P Ness
Re: WE have a small amount of people using what they pay for....That's what I'm saying. I pay for 999 gig's and I'm going to use what I need to use. |
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winsyrstrifeRiver City Bounce Premium Member join:2002-04-30 Brooklyn, NY |
Any rollover?On those monthly GBs the customers are paying for? |
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1 recommendation |
AnonMan
Anon
2013-Aug-8 2:41 pm
Regulation?So because GAS and POWER and WATER get regulated because they are by usage when does internet get proper regulation to guarantee that the data is accurate?
What's to stop you from using 200GB and them saying 300GB and your cap is 250?? Monitoring it yourself is useless too because it's your word vs. them. They will claim your cheap router or firewall PC doesn't compare to the 100k equipment they use that is inaccurate.
Where does it end? How is this any different from me opening a store, selling something for $5 and I say, well you still owe me one more $1 even though you gave me $5.. It should be just as much of a crime...
To make caps more fun, I can make your usage climb with you having nothing turned on but your modem... Just flood it with useless traffic... Like already happens on the net... It's like paying for spam text messages when you pay per msg. |
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88615298 (banned) join:2004-07-28 West Tenness |
to Karl Bode
Re: Mediacomsaid by Karl Bode:Whether a cap is "reasonable" doesn't really change the fact that these companies are using a lack of competition to impose rate hikes on already pricey tiers (by global developed country standards). Please. Look at TV. Some people have cable, TWO satellite companies and either u-verse or FiOS as options. Not to mention OTA and internet viewing. Yet good luck getting cable, satellite or U-verse/FiOS under $70 a month at regular price. So having 4 pay TV options( and the threat of cord cutting via OTA and internet viewing ) has not done a thing to lower pricing. What makes you think having more ISPs in an area would be any different? |
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Nothing Higher than 999gigs... |
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IAMU
Anon
2013-Aug-8 3:57 pm
Mediacom competitionMany of you may not be aware of the fact that Mediacom DOES face strong competition in a number of cities in Iowa. This competition comes not from CenturyLink, Frontier, or any other ILEC. It comes from municipal broadband utilities in several cities. Examples include Cedar Falls, where gigabit internet is available on their fiber-to-the-home platform; Spencer, where customers can subscribe to 100 Mbps down/ 10 Mbps up; and many others, none of which currently have caps. I would be curious to see if Mediacom will be enforcing caps in these municipal communities. |
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halsneb Premium Member join:2005-10-14 Osage, IA |
halsneb
Premium Member
2013-Aug-8 4:01 pm
What about Osage, Iowa. I hear they are pretty awesome for a small community! |
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silbaco Premium Member join:2009-08-03 USA |
silbaco to Os
Premium Member
2013-Aug-8 4:20 pm
to Os
Re: CenturyLinkCenturylink is the telco in the large cities in IA, not IA in general. There are nearly 150 telcos in IA and Windstream has a very large footprint. |
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to 88615298
Re: MediacomIt works but only in select areas with select companies. |
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silbaco Premium Member join:2009-08-03 USA |
to IAMU
Re: Mediacom competitionThey actually have a lot of competition in Iowa. Dozens of independent telcos are deploying ftth, nearly all uncapped. There are several munis, all uncapped. There is a cable overbuilder in Cedar Rapids, ImOn. There are even some wireless companies that offer uncapped service with 4G speeds. |
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