skip to main content

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

play newscast audioPlay

Indiana struggles to reverse its high early death rate, a Texas sheriff recommends criminal charges in DeSantis' migrant flights to Martha's Vineyard, and Congress is urged to take swift action to pass the Rail Safety Act of 2023.

play newscast audioPlay

Former Vice President Mike Pence files to run for President, FBI Director Chris Wray is the subject of new hearings, and a Muslim rights group is suing a Michigan sheriff for discriminatory policies.

play newscast audioPlay

Oregon may expand food stamp eligibility to some undocumented households, rural areas have a new method of accessing money for roads and bridges, and Tennessee's new online tool helps keep track of cemetery locations.

IL Consumer Group Urges Internet Users: "Say No to Data Caps"

play audio
Play

Monday, December 14, 2015   

CHICAGO – A consumer watchdog group in Illinois is asking Internet users to sign a petition aimed at convincing Internet service providers, or ISPs, to drop potential plans for data caps and new overage charges.

This comes as one of the country's largest ISPs, Comcast, is rolling out new data usage billing trials in several cities.

Jim Chilsen, communications director for the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) advocacy group, says the changes could end up costing some customers more than they're paying now, and could hurt competition in the marketplace.

"The data caps aren't in the Land of Lincoln yet, but Comcast is showing signs that it could roll this out nationwide,” Chilsen states. “And we want people to let ISPs know that we're angry about this."

A regional Comcast spokesman confirmed there are no user-based billing trials in the Chicago market.

Comcast's previous data cap has been suspended locally since 2012.

Supporters of the new billing methods say they're more flexible and only the heaviest Internet users would end up paying overage charges.

According to Comcast, only about 8 percent of users nationwide would hit the proposed monthly data cap of 300 gigabytes.

As an example, someone would have to stream about 100 hours of HD videos before being billed an overage charge.

Still, Chilsen says with more people working from home, and more devices and apps online, more people could end up feeling the sting of a data cap.

"What's particularly disturbing about this is, U.S. consumers already pay some of the highest broadband rates in the world,” he points out. “We're talking about an industry trend that is going to make our Internet bills even higher."

Chilsen says more than 1,700 hundred people have signed the no data cap petition on CUB’s website.

Meanwhile, as a low-cost alternative, Comcast points to its $10 a month Internet plan, which has been available to about 30,000 low-income Chicago households since 2011.





get more stories like this via email

According to the Mars Veterinary Health study, nearly 41,000 additional veterinarians will be needed to meet the needs of companion animal health care by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

In Arizona, telemedicine is now not only available for humans but also for people's beloved animals. Last month Governor Katie Hobbs signed Senate …


Environment

play sound

Ruybal Fox Creek Ranch sits in a dramatic canyon in the foothills of southern Colorado's San Juan Mountains, right next to the Rio Grande National …

Health and Wellness

play sound

North Dakota officials are urging people receiving health coverage through a key public program to stay on top of their renewal if they are still elig…


According to the report, there was a 14% increase among Nevada seniors accessing high-speed internet between 2016 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Nevada has received an overall score of 43 in the nation for the health and well-being of its seniors in the state. According to the United Health …

Social Issues

play sound

A court hearing next week could help determine whether an eastern South Dakota mayor will face a recall election. Events are rare for this state…

A new measure in this year's report shows many older adults spent more than 30% of their income on housing. (Adobe stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Indiana ranks closer to the bottom of U.S. states where you will find healthy seniors living than the top, according to a new report. …

Social Issues

play sound

The last day of school for Texas kids is typically one of elation, but for children in rural areas with high poverty rates, it also can mean …

Environment

play sound

Virginia environmental advocates are not happy with the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision on the Clean Water Act. The ruling in Sackett versus E-P-…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021