Terabyte Internet Data Usage

[ComcastJessie]

**UPDATED 06/19/17**

As the world changes and the Internet evolves, so do we. That’s why we are making a major change to our Internet data trials and moving to a terabyte data plan in ALL of our trial markets.    

In our trials, we have experimented with different offers, listened to feedback, and learned a lot. That is what we said we would do when we launched our trials four years ago – analyze and assess our customers' reaction to the data plans, including being open to increasing them over time. We have learned that our customers want the peace of mind to stream, surf, game, download, or do whatever they want online. So, we have created a new data plan that is so high that most of our customers will never have to think about how much data they use.

We know that data plans can be confusing, and we want to keep this simple. So here’s what’s happening:

• All of the data plans in our trial markets will move from a 300 gigabyte data plan to a terabyte by June 1^st, regardless of the speed. 
• For the very tiny portion of our customer super users (less than 1 percent of our customer base) who want more than a terabyte, they can sign up for an unlimited plan for an additional $50 a month, or they have the option to purchase additional buckets of 50 gigabytes of data for $10 each.
• We’ll continue to provide easy access to a data usage meter for all of our customers.

We’ve always said that we’d look carefully at the feedback from our trials, continue to evolve our offers, and listen to our customers. We’re currently evaluating our plans to roll this out in other markets, we’ll keep listening – and we'll be open to making further changes in the future to deliver the best high-speed data service to our customers.

Available Tools for Managing Your Data Usage:

We offer tools to help you track and manage your usage so there are never any surprises about how much data you use:

• Data Usage Meter in My Account - Monitor how much data you have used with our Data Usage Meter.
• XFINITY My Account App - You can also monitor how much data you have used in our mobile app. (Download the XFINITY My Account app.)
• Notifications - We will send you an "in-browser" notice and an email letting you know when you approach, reach and exceed a terabyte. You can also elect to receive notifications at additional thresholds as well as set up mobile text notifications. Usage notifications will not be sent to customers who enroll in the Unlimited Data Option.
• Data Plan Website - Summary of plan features and additional tools and tips related to the data plans. To visit, got to dataplan.xfinity.com.

Applicability:

View the list of locations participating in the data usage plan.

The Terabyte Internet Data Usage Plan does not currently apply to XFINITY Internet customers on our Gigabit Pro tier of service. The plan also does not apply to Business Internet customers, customers on Bulk Internet agreements, and customers with Prepaid Internet.

Unlimited Data Plan:

The Unlimited Data Option costs an additional $50* per calendar month. The fee is independent of actual data usage. The Terabyte Internet Data Usage Plan will not apply to customers who enroll in the Unlimited Data Option.

For example, if you enroll in the Unlimited Data Option and use 1.5 terabytes in a given month, you will only be charged a fee of $50 for choosing to enroll in the Unlimited Data Option. If you do not enroll in the Unlimited Data Option, you would be on the 1 Terabyte Plan and therefore would be charged $100 for the additional 500 GB (ten blocks of additional 50 GB at $10 each) provided on top of the Terabyte Internet Data Usage Plan.

Enrollment and cancellation go into effect on the first day of the subsequent calendar month. For example, if you call to enroll in the Unlimited Data Option on November 14, 2016, you will be enrolled in the Unlimited Data Option starting December 1, 2016. Overages incurred during the month of November will still be handled according to the Terabyte Internet Data Usage Plan.

Enrollment in the Unlimited Data Plan is optional, and is available to all customers in locations with the Terabyte Internet Data Usage Plan. Data usage plans do not apply to Business Internet customers, customers on Bulk Internet agreements, and customers with Prepaid Internet, or to XFINITY Internet customers on our Gigabit Pro tier of service.

To find out if you are in a market that offers our Unlimited Data Option, please see Is my household included in the Terabyte Internet Data Usage Plan?

*If you enrolled in the Unlimited Data Option prior to June 1, 2016, you will continue to pay your current monthly rate of $30 or $35, as applicable, for this feature until December 31, 2016, after which the price will be increased to $50 or the then-current monthly price.

Feel free to post any questions, comments, or concerns on this thread and if you are wanting more information go here: http://corporate.comcast.com/comcast-voices/a-terabyte-internet-experience or our FAQs here: https://www.xfinity.com/support/internet/data-usage-plan/

What counts towards my data plan?

All data usage delivered over your home Xfinity Internet service, both downloaded and uploaded, is counted towards your data plan, regardless of the source.

For example, all Internet-based video streaming and download services, including Internet-delivered programming available through www.xfinity.com/stream and Xfinity apps, is included in the calculation of monthly usage. Xfinity TV and Xfinity Voice services that are not delivered over the Internet and are not received by you using your Xfinity Internet service do not count.

For more information about data usage and the X1 Platform, see X1 Internet Data Usage Details.

For examples of applications and services that may contribute to your data usage, see the Xfinity Data Estimator.

Please note that monthly usage is tracked based on a calendar month. The cutoff is determined based on local time.

[LaNinaM615]

The way Comcast has it setup if you go over your 300GB limit is to AUTOMATICALLY charge you $10 for every 50GB you go over the limit.

Is this LEGAL?!

If it is, then we seriously need to do something about this! Banks do the same thing with their "Overdraft Protection" schemes and the government forced them to make customers "opt-in" to such services so that there would no longer be any surprises on your bank statement (unless you asked for it).

The same should apply here. I do not wish to be AUTOMATICALLY charged $10 every time I go over the ridiculous 300GB limit! If you want to offer me an additional 50GB of service for $10 that's fine, but you should be required to ASK MY PERMISSION before adding on charges to my account.

<Edited for violating forum guidelines: "Inflammatory">

Lets put a stop to this RIGHT NOW and <edited for violating forum guidelines: "Solicitation">

[maria5848]

they could atleast increase the data cap -_- i use 300 gb in 27 days and i try not to use the internet if i dont need to. but imagine if i used it regularly . SMFH increase the Data CAP to 500GB or Atleast 400GB.

[PredPilot]

I think it's probably legal. If you go over your data usage with a cell phone they charge you a overage. However, I'm not an expert on that kind of stuff so don't take my word for it. Just my opinion. But I ageee with you, just offer us freaking different data plans! It's not fair to cap everyone at the same 300G. I'm not sure they are charging correctly either. Once this plan went into effect, my data usage suddenly skyrocketed. The previous months all said 200-ishG and all of a sudden I'm using 358G? I haven't changed how I do anything. <Edited for violating forum guidelines: "Inflammatory">

[rbezuide]

I just got a call today that I reached my 300GB limit for the month.  I called and got a pretty rude response from the security and data usage department.  The guy told me in so many words that if I do not like or agree with the policy that I should feel free to find another service provider.!!!

I tried to explain that we watch Netflix and XFinity on-demand alot and I was told that that can not be anywhere close to the data usage.

I checked my router and watching a "super HD, dolby 5.1" TV show on Netflix will average about 5-6 GB per hour (1.6MB/s) ... sp this means that I can only watch no more than 1-2 Super HD TV shows a day via Netflix before I run out of my data usage.    This seems a bit redicilous doesn't it?

Maybe the TV ads about the higher speed than the competition should be accompanied with "as long as you don't use it too often" 😞   Not a good experience ... 

[InternetGuy]

Get a commercial account, no data caps and 24/7 support from people in this country

[rbezuide]

That would be nice ... but how much more $$$ would that be?   I would really consider it if it is not too expensive.  

I just think the the 300GB limit is not a realistic limit in this have of streaming HD content and multiple connected devices ....

[dj280]

There is an alternative to constant daily video streaming via the internet.

Its called Cable Tv & you can watch Literally Unlimited amounts of video per month, ...

hundreds of thousands of terabytes of video per month  🙂 

.

[mannee68]

I've been monitoring my data usage over the past 2 days & the "meter" shows that I've used 7GB in one day. I will be calling to find out about this because I've only downloaded 1 file in this time period & it was only 114MB. (TBC)

[dudemann]

Cable TV is okay and all if you don't care what you're watching or don't care about the quality of the picture, but the reason people use Netflix in HD in the first place is because its actually got a permanently good picture and you actually get to choose what you want to watch. I mean if there's a series you want to watch, or a specific episode you haven't seen, there's no way you can rely on cable TV to give it to you. If you wanna watch syndicated reruns of shows you may or may not even like in standard-def, that's cool... some of us would rather not.

[Jim721]

You can call, you can complain, you can scream it won't matter comcast goes by there data meter period and that's the way it works if they say you used 300 then as far as there concerned you used 300. I am not sticking up for comcast I hate the caps myself but unfortunately this is the way it's going to be. <Edited for violating forum guidelines: "Inflammatory"> get use to it or find another provider it's your only recourse.

[jbspbs]

<Edited for violating forum guidelines: "Inflammatory">  Where did this come from?  How can you limit data??? What world do you live in???

I have never liked comcast--I will be shopping around now.

<Edited for violating forum guidelines: "Inflammatory">

I am not sure if the PSC or other agency regulates, but I will find out and complain.  Our world is based on internet and this company pulls this stunt!!!!!

I also do not appreciate the fact that when I looked for customer support on this issue, I was sent to this ridiciolous world of drop down menus.

<Edited for violating forum guidelines: "Inflammatory">

[rbezuide]

I don't care that there is a cap, but I do care that it should be a realistic cap. In our day and age with services like Netflix and XFinity on demand and Hulu etc etc 300GB seems redicilous. Even their data calculator doesn't show HD streaming values. Yes, <Edited for violating forum guidelines: "Inflammatory"> and where we are there is no other service. I can't wait for u-verse internet or Google fiber to arrive.

😞

[rbezuide]

I agree, the limit is useless for HD streaming, watch 4 Netflix Ultra HD shows and you are close to 20GB for the day. They should be realistic and increase it to 500GB .... I also can't wait for Google fiber etc to arrive!! Google and even U-verse fiber should jump on this with adds!!

[jbspbs]

They may be legal but I hope we all show them it is bad business.  I am actively looking for another company.  So much for loyalty to a customer with them for 15 years.  SCREW them

[Nerd]

In the interest of keeping things orderly....This is the DATA CAP MEGA THREAD....post data cap questions or comments here.

Please keep it civil.

---

Comcast is testing usage plans (AKA "data caps") in certain markets.

The markets that are currently testing usage plans are:

Nashville, Tennessee market: 300 GB per month and additional gigabytes in increments/blocks ( e.g., $10.00 per 50 GB ). 

Tucson, Arizona market: Economy Plus through Performance tiers receive 300 GB. Those customers subscribed to the Blast! Internet tier receive 350 GB; Extreme 50 customers receive 450 GB; Extreme 105 customers receive 600 GB. Additional gigabytes in increments/blocks of 50 GB for $10.00 each in the event the customer exceeds their included data amount. 

Huntsville and Mobile, Alabama; Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah, Georgia; Central Kentucky; Maine; Jackson, Mississippi; Knoxville and Memphis, Tennessee and Charleston, South Carolina: 300 GB per month and additional gigabytes in increments/blocks ( e.g., $10.00 per 50 GB ) Economy Plus customers have the option of enrolling in the Flexible-Data plan.

Fresno, California: Economy Plus customers also have the option of enrolling in the Flexible-Data plan.

Fort Lauderdale, the Keys and Miami, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia: 300 GB limit. Customers have the option to purchase the Unlimited Plan for $30-$35 a month (in addition to their regular monthly fee) to waive the 300 GB usage limit.

- If you live outside of these markets you ARE NOT currently subject to a data plan.

- Comcast DOES NOT THROTTLE your speed if you exceed your usage limits.

- You can check out the Data Usage Plan FAQ for more information.

[jbspbs]

obviously the kingpins at comcast due not have teenagers or smart phones.  the cap is stupid and unrealistic.  good bye comcast.  if you roll out a new plan, then have reasonable pricing options.  they are doing this to see how much they can market for and i understand business.  i also know that customer loyalty is key component.  they have lost mine.  i am actively seeking new service and will pay more to be treated better.  i now have to tell my advanced high school student to curtail his voluntary  on line summer studies while i get a handle on this no notice outrageous change.  say goodbye to all of my premium channels, movie rentals, and anything else i can do to save money.  at one time i hated comcast but eventually they improved customer service. now they use shady business tactics for market research on how much they can stick it to us. 

[mannee68]

One thing that I think needs to be considered about what constitutes actuall data transmission for comcast. For example, lets say you want to view a video and surf to that page but the video doesn't play for what ever reason, an err msg, NoScript (for firefox users). Does that still count as "Data Usage"? I mean technically, the data from that video was never transmitted. So, will the size of the video, whether it was a 30 second news clip, or a 4 minute music video wich could possibly be 100MB be added to our quota even if it wasn't transmitted to your pc & you weren't able to view it??

[EG]

No. It doesn't work that way. Only bits / packets that actually cross the modem are counted.

[randomguy10]

The On Demand selection with Comcast is better then what Netflix offers.  I have the preferred package with Comcast but even looking at the channels in their starter lineup, watching the free On Demand from those channels would allow me to find something to watch better then Netflix could.  Plus On Demand actually has the current seasons so I'm not a season or two behind at all times.  To each their own I guess.  Where I live Comcast doesn't have a cap but I still use less than 300Gb a month and that's with 4 people gaming and streaming. 

[mannee68]

Are you a comcast employee?

[randomguy10]

Lol no.  How dare I say anything remotely good about Comcast, right?  In the future I'll make sure to only voice my opinion on them when it's negative.

[mannee68]

No, I'm new to this forum so I thought If I hit "Reply" on a particular post, it would reply to THAT comment/question. I meant to ask "EG", in response to my question of what constitutes "usage" as far as comcast is concerned.

[EG]

CC employees here have their forum name colored in red.

[mannee68]

@EG...

then how do you know how "it" works?

[EG]

How do I know *what* works ?

[mannee68]

What constitutes usage.

[robandmar]

upload and download both.

Not just download

[mannee68]

I meant what constitutes usage in the context of my original question to which you answered "No. It doesn't work that way. Only bits / packets that actually cross the modem are counted." How do you know that's how Comcast calculates Data Usage bieing that you're not an employee?

[EG]

From seeing hundreds of post's here and at other forums indicating so and being told so by a high level CC employee.

[mannee68]

You must be one of those kids that've forgotten how to communicate in 140 (160) charatcters or less.

[EG]

Huh ???

[BruceW]

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mannee68 wrote: ... How do you know that's how Comcast calculates Data Usage ...

---

See http://netforecast.com/documents/NFR5101_Comcast_Usage_Meter_Accuracy.pdf

[EG]

Thank you Bruce. Was looking for that doc.

[rbezuide]

That is fine if you are up to date with all the TV series and follow them regularly ... we never watched 24 or lost or Life and want to catch up on those.  Those you cannot get from XFinity on-demand because they do not keep all the shows all the time.  

So if you want to catch up on 2, 5 or 6 seasons of a show, XFinity is not the place to go.  I also do not have a calbe box, I rub a HTPC so I have to watch via a PC hooked up to the TV, so no HD content there.

I have to say that Hulu and Netflix picture quality is really grate, so no, XFinity is not always the solution if you want to watch something a couple of seasons back.

[dmartin1910]

"Once this plan went into effect, my data usage suddenly skyrocketed."

Same with me! December was my highest month.  I have come close in February, and today, on the 31st I have 294 GB.  I had 270 YESTERDAY.  I downloaded only 3 45 minute shows to see what that would cost in GB.  It took less than an hour to download all three shows, then I'm up 24 GB when I recheck the usage meter?  The math does not add up!!

[dmartin1910]

Oh come on.  He didn't use profanity.  People have a right to be upset.  If there is an overage charge it should be PER GB, not in blocks.  At least that is an accurate usage charge.  

---

@i-am-nerdburg wrote:

In the interest of keeping things orderly....This is the DATA CAP MEGA THREAD....post data cap questions or comments here.

Please keep it civil.

---

[dmartin1910]

Well they must not be HUGE streamers.  There's only me and my son and I haven't gone over YET but I'm at 295 today on the 31st and I've been over 250 two other times since the imposed data cap enforcement started in December in my area.

We stream a lot of movies, my son plays games with his friends and we also have Apple TV and Amazon Instant Video Prime Members.  We are more online than TV.  That probably isn't the case in your family of 4. 

---

@randomguy10 wrote:

The On Demand selection with Comcast is better then what Netflix offers.  I have the preferred package with Comcast but even looking at the channels in their starter lineup, watching the free On Demand from those channels would allow me to find something to watch better then Netflix could.  Plus On Demand actually has the current seasons so I'm not a season or two behind at all times.  To each their own I guess.  Where I live Comcast doesn't have a cap but I still use less than 300Gb a month and that's with 4 people gaming and streaming. 

---

[dmartin1910]

I'll tell you what REALLY isn't fair.  That is that in "test markets" like mine, Atlanta, we have the 300 GB enforced with the penalty overage charge and we pay the SAME rates as people in other markets that aren't yet one of the "test markets".  

At least within a given country charge the same thing to ALL of your customers for the SAME service/enforcement rules.

That's what blows the most in my opinion.

[dmartin1910]

---

@jbspbs wrote:

I CAN NOT believe the highway robbery on this change in data plans!!!!!  Where did this come from?  How can you limit data??? What world do you live in???

I have never liked comcast--I will be shopping around now.

I hope others do the same.

I am not sure if the PSC or other agency regulates, but I will find out and complain.  Our world is based on internet and this company pulls this stunt!!!!!

I also do not appreciate the fact that when I looked for customer support on this issue, I was sent to this ridiciolous world of drop down menus.

TERRBILE TERRIBLE COMPANY

Here, Here!  All of the Cellular providers base their caps on the fact that we can connect our phone to our home wifi and not have to use as many cellular minutes!  It messes with the whole structure that we expect to pay an agreed upon price for a GENEROUS amount of data if not unlimited.  Plus, subscribers to Blast or the higher tier where it's available should have higher thresholds, as we pay more for faster service. What does it matter if it's faster if we reach our limit even faster?  It's ridiculous to offer faster and faster service and not have the GB limits be in tiers also.  

---

[dmartin1910]

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@dj280 wrote:

There is an alternative to constant daily video streaming via the internet.

Its called Cable Tv & you can watch Literally Unlimited amounts of video per month, ...

hundreds of thousands of terabytes of video per month  🙂 

.

---

But ONLY what the cable company wants to offer for the packages they offer (not necessarily the 40 channels the CUSTOMER wants)!  Be more flexible with your channel/package offerings and you WOULD see more TV vs. internet usage.  80%  of my package are channels I'm not the LEAST bit interested in.  And I refuse to pay two packages UP to use 20% of ALL of those packages.  It's RIDICULOUS!!

[tomkym]

I agree with you. Streaming in HD adds up fast. I am currently in the 300GB zone and what they need to do is offer tiered usage limits. I understand why they wont to charge for usage but tiered is the way to go. I pay for extreme speeds and should have a higher limit than someone how has a basic internet service. Its obivious that I pay for the extreme speeds because I want to use the internet to the fullest for games and movies. Just as its obvious that someone who has a simple BLAST service or slower just wants to use the internet for basic and midlevel stuff. It would be fairer. How long is the trial period going to last? I just found out that Arizona has a tiered system. I want that now.  

[Nerd]

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@tomkym wrote:

 I pay for extreme speeds and should have a higher limit than someone how has a basic internet service. 

---

I agree 100%. Comcast likes to talk about "average" usage, but I don't pay for an "average" plan. I pay for "Extreme" internet speeds and I shouldn't have the same data cap as grandma. 

[rbezuide]

Here is what Netflix shows .. Ultra HD is up to 7GB.  Come on Comcast ... you have to take this into acount.  I agree with everyone else, if I pay for Blast / Extreme I qualify for higher data usage too!!

 (I can't show the screen capture)

HIGH - (Best video quality. Up to 3GB per hour for HD, 7 GB per hour for Ultra HD)

[rbezuide]

Also .. I called they security and data usage and they told me that they sent an email out informing everyone.   I checked my Comcast email and I did not get any such email, nor anything in the post or a call.   So this was changing what I pay for without informing me.

How about we contact 11 Alive news in ATL ... I think they might just be willing to take this up on the news:  

"Comcast enforces data limit on Comcast customers without informing them - are you paying extra??"

[dj280]

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@rbezuide wrote:

Also .. I called they security and data usage and they told me that they sent an email out informing everyone.   I checked my Comcast email and I did not get any such email, nor anything in the post or a call.   So this was changing what I pay for without informing me.

How about we contact 11 Alive news in ATL ... I think they might just be willing to take this up on the news:  

"Comcast enforces data limit on Comcast customers without informing them - are you paying extra??"

---

with out informing you - Without informing them -    fwiw:  the terms of service you and everyone agreed to one way or another, includes language that Comcast can make any changes at any time for any reason with out notice.

Anyway, who are you quoting?   someone that barks w/o knowing what their barking about?

Data Cap is really old news. And there have been discussions all over the internet for over a year.

Infact a data cap is not even new as it used to be a fixed 250gig data cap, but has been recently suspended for a year+, (i'm not gonna go ask Google), while Comcast implements & rolls out new usage meter, new data limits, and costs for additional data usage. The terms of service still references a 250gig cap.   

If People make the personal choice to use massive amounts of bandwidth, (downloading 100's of gigs of movies, or unproductive hours & hours per day all month of HD streaming video), they can jolly well pay extra for tying up all that monthly bandwidth & potentially causing internet congestion.

.

[mrhorseshoe]

Our family of six uses around 30GB/day (mostly Netflix and daily cloud backups for our home computers). The 300GB cap is insane, to say the least.  My brother in law lives in Korea and they have much higher speeds with zero caps.  Comcast is living in the Stone Age with their policies.

[dmartin1910]

Except it's not tied in anyway to high usage periods. This policy does not address high traffic at all.

[rbezuide]

@dj280

Sure ..  they always say they can change it without notice at any time, but is that taking care of your customers?  Is that why banks have to inform you when they change their monthly charges for your bank account, but Comcast doesn't have to?  

Living in this day and age of HD content, you need to adjust your limits especially when even comcast allows you to stream content via Xfinity on demand.   Here, we'll advertise that you can watch movies and shows online and we'll charge you when you go over the unrealistic limit too.

Enforce it on the people that download movies illegally etc. and don't hit on the people using legitimate services like Netflix, Hulu etc ... and yes ... they can do that if they want to.

[Nerd]

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@dj280 wrote:

If People make the personal choice to use massive amounts of bandwidth, (downloading 100's of gigs of movies, or unproductive hours & hours per day all month of HD streaming video), they can jolly well pay extra for tying up all that monthly bandwidth & potentially causing internet congestion.

---

I'm already paying $80 a month for internet. Under the new data plan my cost would be something like $150 month. You think that's fair? I recognize we are heavier users than the average, that's why I pay for "Extreme" internet.

And the caps are not about congestion or network management. Under the new plan you can use as much data as you like.