Mediacom → Re: Mediacom To Start Charging For Phone Modem

We are currently reviewing the potential for customers to purchase modems from other retailers or use their own that they already have for phone service. As soon as we have more information on this I will let everyone know.

Why doesn't Mediacom do the right thing and have a plan for customer owned devices before starting the new charge?

Rocco wants the cash.

He won't net much cash if several customers drop the phone.

tsduke, realistically, this has actually made me think about not just dropping phone, but also TV service. I realized how little cable I actually watch as I started thinking about other ways to save on my bill tonight, and have been talking with other people in our household about it. Until another internet provider can offer speeds beyond 1.5 in this area (which is as high as CenturyLink goes currently) I'll be stuck with that, but dropping TV and moving phone might be what we end up doing. Between the digital adapters that will start costing $3/month next year, the voicemail charge (which was something originally free), a charge just to have a cable box, and now the modem double dip...ugh. And satellite isn't any better in regards to TV when you start taking into account multiple TVs in a household. I'm honestly thinking I could learn to live with just OTA networks.

MediacomChad, know that I don't hold you responsible for any of this. I still appreciate all the help you've given people here, myself included, over the past few years, and I know you can only do so much. But please, if you're in a position to pass on these concerns to people above you, do so. As a customer, I hate being in this position. I'm generally happy with the quality of my service. The picture's good, the phone's hardly ever down, and my internet connection is stable and fast. But I also hate the feeling that I'm being gouged or ripped off. You're basically raising the price of phone service by $5 across the board, but tacking it on as an equipment fee instead. It feels underhanded, shady, and, I don't know if it will do any good, but I will be passing my concerns on to local politicians and a few people I know in the media as well. I'm sure there are plenty of people who won't even look twice at their bills, but our household is on a very fixed income right now, and even $5 makes me stop and think.

Yes, there are many options for cord cutters now if they are not huge content consumers of the latest and greatest. Netflix is cheap and has a lot of streaming content, although the movie selections are pretty limited. There is free Hulu with commercials and paid Hulu. A mix of OTA, Netflix, Hulu, and other internet accessible content will cost a fraction of Mediacom TV service.

yep, you may remember that's the point we all made when they decided to charge for internet modems. I always figured this phone modem thing was going to come next.

A lot of people don't notice these 'sneaky' price increases and that's why companies do it. Sales people get to advertise lower price and company can charge more at the same time.

If I had just OTA, I don't think I'd have much need for a TV (beyond the kids' video games). One time I did go through and list the cable / satellite channels we watch and found about 24 that we and visiting family watch. Cutting out the less frequent channels and I can get down to 10. I don't count OTA channels in that list since I'd consider using a small antenna to save a few $ on my bill.

$5 will make a lot of people complain, but how many will actually do something about it?

The Home Phone Connect Lazy Senior mentioned sounds interesting. I ordered one about a week ago. I've been doing the same thing with a cell phone and a bluetooth gateway for about three years.

Please hurry. I feel a "Buy it Now" is in my future. Which Arris models does Mediacom currently have in service? Anything you currently use SHOULD be supported.

Fewer customers, percentage wise, need to drop phone service than the percentage price increase the $5 charge represents. If so, then it is a net revenue gain for Mediacom.

We use the Arris 402G, 502G, 601A and 602G phone modems

No DOCSIS 3 models? Is the Cisco DPC3208 that was mentioned earlier used? Any other DOCSIS 3 telephony modems?

Cisco 3XXX series are all DOCSIS 3 modems/gateways

Currently we do not have any Arris D3 modems out for regular use.