AfterDawn: News

Time Warner backs down from controversial bandwidth caps

Time Warner has put plans to expand their metered internet service plans to New York and North Carolina on hold. It seems they underestimated how much attention it would generate and now they are in damage control mode.

Despite apparently clear evidence that their customers may just not be interested in paying an additional amount for the unlimited service they get now, Time Warner Cable executives are spinning it as an education problem. In a statement, CEO Glenn Britt said "It is clear from the public response over the last two weeks that there is a great deal of misunderstanding about our plans to roll out additional tests on consumption based billing."



Of course it's possible that the real catalyst for Time Warner's decision was New York Senator Charles Schumer's public opposition to the plan.

Britt added, "We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Schumer, our customers and all of the other interested parties as the process moves forward, to ensure that informed decisions are made about the best way to continue to provide our customers with the level of service that they expect and deserve from Time Warner Cable."

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 16 Apr 2009 22:55

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• 16 comments

• rtm27

  "It is clear from the public response over the last two weeks that there is a great deal of misunderstanding about our plans to roll out additional tests on consumption based billing."
  
  
  Nope, there really is no misunderstanding. Adding an additional $20 to a bill to start AND then put a cap on the bandwitdth?!?!
  
  What I don't understand is my internet bill raising from $19.99 in 2002 to $44.99 now....for the same service!! If they can somehow explain that to me, I might be willing to listen to them....and not laugh in their face!!

  16.4.2009 23:18 #1

• Amak

  Hmm...hopefully other ISPs won't follow TW's example.

  17.4.2009 01:32 #2

• beanos66

  Quote:"It is clear from the public response over the last two weeks that there is a great deal of misunderstanding about our plans to roll out additional tests on consumption based billing." in otherwords, our customers are thickos for not wanting to pay more for an inferior service

  17.4.2009 01:54 #3

• windsong

  I would sooner go back to dial-up than go with TW or any other iSP with such ridiculously low caps.
  
  I am with TekSavvy...40 a month gets me unlimited DSL and I usually do about 400-500 gigs per month.
  
  I hear things are really bad in New Zealand for internet users.

  17.4.2009 02:58 #4

• ZippyDSM

  just wait till the sheeple stop stampeading and forget...I say they will start back up in the fall or around Xmas...or spring of 010

  17.4.2009 03:01 #5

• zarlaan

  Ever since the telecom companies could no longer make money off us with the standard LAN lines (dial-up) etc. They're going to gouge the broadband market for as much and as long as they possibly can.
  
  Cellular service is going the same way. It costs now about 2 to 3 times as much to send a text message as it did 6 years ago.

  17.4.2009 04:57 #6

• bigfamei

  Everyone sees the scam they are trying to pull. While Tv is apart of people lives. They are moving away more and more from pay TV. When you can get unlimited DVD's through netflix and blockbuster. Hulu showing programming TV programming. And the ever growing game industry. Its time for cable lines to be open to everyone. Especially in those cities where they are the monopoly.

  17.4.2009 08:31 #7

• Mez

  My greedy ISP also 'flop-flops' they have gone to one extreme then recant when they lose business. They both are just trying to get something for nothing. We all like that. The reason people buy broadband is because they what to use broad band. If they didn't they would be using dial up for much less.

  17.4.2009 10:53 #8

• ren97

  If you want schumer to keep speaking for us on issues involving defense of the internet, send him an email thanking him:
  
  http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/contact.cfm
  http://www.afterdawn.com/news/post_news_...m_id=33#comment

  17.4.2009 14:20 #9

• david89

  not a victory still keep up the fight "Time Warner Cable said it would be working to make measurement tools available as soon as possible so consumers can learn just how much bandwidth they consume on average" see still going try roll it out they can't give up.

  17.4.2009 14:23 #10

• hermes_vb

  @bigfamei You forgot to mention over-the-air HD for free.
  
  On the other side of the ISP spectrum, phone companies are feeling the sting of Skype and other VOIP services. If you can, you should go with an independent DSL provider like this people:
  
  DSL Extreme
  
  This is not an ad. I don't even live in California.

  17.4.2009 14:25 #11

• Mr-Movies

  Comcast is doing the same crap as TW but has not learned their lesson as of yet. My broadband is from them and I had digital phone service through them as well until they decided to get greedy and change to VoIP for more money and less service/quality. I bailed on them due to their very poor management decision and now have my phone service through BBTelSys which is much cheaper I have 2 lines for less then one and have business features which not even Vontage could come close to matching. Soon when they get too carried away with broadband, which they are working towards, I will drop them for a better deal elsewhere. Go poor management!

  17.4.2009 14:32 #12

• MARKO42

  I am with TekSavvy...40 a month gets me unlimited DSL and I usually do about 400-500 gigs per month.
  
  I hear things are really bad in New Zealand for internet users.I have no idea about new zealand but unlimited DSL is only a dream for most people in Australia.
  I pay $60 a month for 50GB plan half of which is off peak which is 5 hours in the early morning. After we reach our limit it is shaped as they call it to dialup speed.
  
  You also have connection speeds i will probably never see

  17.4.2009 16:25 #13

• B33rdrnkr

  I have a 250 Gb cap, I am waiting for a letter from my isp so I can file it immediately in the garbage.. If my service gets shut off I will promptly put my service in someone else's name and/or just switch isp's all together.. they will get the point eventually when they see their numbers drop cause eventually they call you back after you do not have service with them for so long.. They miss the money like a crack fiend who has sobered up longs for that hit...

  17.4.2009 21:44 #14

• johnny121

  Quote:a great deal of misunderstanding about our plansANYone here have ANY difficulty understanding their plans?
  
  The statement is so idiotic, it's insulting.

  18.4.2009 19:53 #15

• Mez

  johnny121, you do not realize true genious when you see it!. They are soooo smart they will get millions in bonus this year. Most bussinesses are run that way. That is why the world is going to hell in a handbasket!

  21.4.2009 06:56 #16