AT&T Customers Campaign Against Data Policies
Feb 29, 2012, 7:20 AM by Eric M. Zeman
AT&T is facing a customer backlash now that it is enforcing certain network management policies. Last year, the company announced plans to throttle data speeds of the top 5% of customers. Though it varies market-to-market, many customers have reported being throttled once they reach approximately 2GB of data per month. One customer in California successfully sued AT&T in small claims court over the throttling and won an $850 judgement (AT&T is appealing that case). Now, another customer has started a campaign on Change.org in an attempt to get AT&T to alter its data policies. The customer complains that her account was throttled once she reached 2GB of data usage per month, even though AT&T offers 3GB plans. So far, 9,500 other AT&T customers have signed the petition. An AT&T spokesperson said the company had already throttled data speeds for about 200,000 of its customers who were using about 2GB of data per month. AT&T has some 17 million customers with unlimited plans who could be affected by the throttling policy.
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Comments
question
does at&t have this "right plan promise" like Sprint, where you can always change your plan at anytime without extending your service agreement?
Honestly, I've never had a problem changing my plans or addons with AT&T. The "Right Plan Promise" may not be stated with AT&T, but I've been with them for almost 6 years now, and done several price plan changes without affecting my contract. Just a...
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Some FACTS for customers looking elsewhere (or AT&T Fanboys)
Here are FACTS. Up for discussion, but not debate.
2/29/2012
Verizon LTE- in 196 Markets
AT&T LTE- in 28 Markets
Verizon Data Coverage-(Map clearly shows almost entire network is 3G or 4G, no need to zoom in but you can if you want to, lol)
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/CoverageLocatorCo » ... »
AT&T Data Coverage-(Being the ETHICAL company they are, you have to click "data" then actually ZOOM in to see where exactly they have 4G, 3G and EDGE. You will clearly see a majority of their network is in fact EDGE or the slowest speed by far)
http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/ » »
An AT&T Fanboy told me that AT&T has better smartphones. Don't know if he meant better selection or better actual phones but in either case;
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2/29/2012
Verizon LTE- in 196 Markets
AT&T LTE- in 28 Markets
Verizon Data Coverage-(Map clearly shows almost entire network is 3G or 4G, no need to zoom in but you can if you want to, lol)
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/CoverageLocatorCo » ... »
AT&T Data Coverage-(Being the ETHICAL company they are, you have to click "data" then actually ZOOM in to see where exactly they have 4G, 3G and EDGE. You will clearly see a majority of their network is in fact EDGE or the slowest speed by far)
http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/ » »
An AT&T Fanboy told me that AT&T has better smartphones. Don't know if he meant better selection or better actual phones but in either case;
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Sorry my link above for VZW isn't working. Just go to verizon.com then click on "Explore", then click "Our Network & Coverage" and you will see their data coverage map showing 3G and 4G LTE coverages. You can further investigate your own area by cl...
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Good post! Don't let anyone knock you for your data usage, we pay a real, real lot for our wireless service, smart phones these days are very, very capable devices, AND 700mhz LTE is PLENTY capable of handling a lot of data traffic.
I have used 35Gigs a month or more since Sept 2011 with Verizon(Motorola Bionic). PDAnet app w/unlimited data. Never received a warning or any throttling of my speed. I used 70gigs last month 😎 . No cable/internet bill. Computer connected to Fla...
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Here is the thing with the 2GB and throttling of data
AT&T is not throttling because of amount of usage, they are throttling speeds with excessive usage in short period of time. Anyone using 2 GB in a month cycle will be fine, however, if you are using up 2GB in 3-4 days then that will put you in the 5% highest usage based on projected usage. That is how it is..you can't abuse the bandwith...I have unlimited and I have a hard time getting to 1 gb..so I have no idea what these people are doing on there phones to be so excessive with usage....I can see AT&T point of view on this..they have to maintain the bandwith..anyone on unlimited can go to tiered pricing and have no issues...so do that..3GB is plenty of data...
I promise you that the people that are being throttled at 2 GB is using that amount in a matter of days..not a billing cycle....people need to know what they are talking about with this policy before knocking it. AT&T are not the only carrier to throt...
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Some people would say you should be limited because you are a data hog using 1GB a month! Eventually enough people will be off unlimited or have left AT&T that you, at 1GB, will be throttled because you will be the top 5%. Sound different when it will...
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You have a hard time reaching a gig? What do you do with your smartphone,...anything? Do you watch news videos, do you do anything with your smartphone?
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I hit just under the 2GB marker at around 15 days into my cycle..they sent me an email and text about the top 5% and blah blah.
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Fantastic! Fight these clowns who refuse to invest in their network
Glad people are taking it to them! I would be pissed at any carrier that engages in all these data shenanigans with their customers. I love how somehow their bandwidth magically increases to unlimited when app makers would pay them some money or how the cap is set to 2GB just under that lofty 3GB plan for the same dollar amount or how anyone who did use a certain amount of data previously was obviously tethering and had their unlimited data automatically removed from their accounts and a tiered plan added. I used 13GB of VZW LTE data this month and my wife used 9GB with no problem, cap or throttle of any kind and at 15 to 20MB LTE speed. Vote with your wallets people (that actually want to use your advanced smartphone) and go to Verizon, S...
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Fight these clown who refuse to invest in their network???
You are a moron. You should read more about the investments that AT&T is making before you stay stuipid crap like that.
I'm not saying all of AT&T's policys are prefect, but for 4 years ...
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You are a moron. You should read more about the investments that AT&T is making before you stay stuipid crap like that.
I'm not saying all of AT&T's policys are prefect, but for 4 years ...
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Is this being moderated AT ALL??
Why is it that the pro-AT&T gang always lead with insults? You don't rationally talk to anyone, your first post will be automatically starting a fight. But, I post one thing, calling a dude a prick, cause he was, and I'm the one that gets removed?
Is it just me or...
Is not unlimited mean all you can use? If you limit how fast you can use data you are limiting the amount of data a customer can use? I understand speeds are not gaurenteed but the plan is unlimited so by slowing speeds down you are placing a limit on the data you can use. So unlimited is limited. At the very least the speeds should only be limited by what in necessary to relieve congestion and this should apply to all users on the congested network.
The way they throttle as well completely makes the device useless. The speeds are worse than 56k. The upload is the only thing that is untouched, but download is awful when throttled.
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So....
What are they going to throttle next,unlimited calling? Do they have something installed in their network to drop your calls continuously once you reach 1500 "daytime minutes"?
Normally...
...I'd be joining the knock AT&T bandwagon on this, and it's not that I'm not willing to: their policies toward their customers are wrong. Unlimited means without limitation. Limitation on speed, limitation on volume, or limitation on hours of use are all limitations. This has been debated and argued a million times before, and the pro-AT&T-do-whatever-they-can-get-away-with crowd is never going to cede the obvious point. That said, I'm not signing a petition for an Obama front group that wants my mailing address! You'd have to be stupid to sign that petition as it is.
Oh, and I kinda like the developers absorbing the cost idea from a couple days ago. Not against that. As long as it's financially feasible, I'm cool add hell with it.
Something I don't understand
If they're throttling the top 5% of unlimited users...
...and people are being throttled for using around 2 GB of data...
...then if you're around that, why not just change your plan to a tiered one that you'd stay under anyways and avoid getting throttled?
It just seems to me that people overstate their need for data in most cases. And I'm not saying throttling like this is right, I'm just looking at it a little differently than most of the hip 'let's hate on AT&T' people are.
...and people are being throttled for using around 2 GB of data...
...then if you're around that, why not just change your plan to a tiered one that you'd stay under anyways and avoid getting throttled?
It just seems to me that people overstate their need for data in most cases. And I'm not saying throttling like this is right, I'm just looking at it a little differently than most of the hip 'let's hate on AT&T' people are.
Some people just have too much free time and need somthing to do!
Your contract is only 2 years! After 2 years, att can switch you to 3gb for 30$.
Your contract is only 2 years! After 2 years, att can switch you to 3gb for 30$.
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