Suddenlink among providers testing data caps

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Just like cell phone minutes, if you go over your allotted amount of data, you may soon be paying more for your internet usage.

Several companies, including Suddenlink, are currently testing plans to deal with increasing internet usage across the country.

“All these activities add up, so individuals here in our area will have to monitor their usage,” said Roger Conner of Go-Science.

Conner is talking about what would happen if Suddenlink’s internet allowance plan comes to North Carolina.

He said your bandwidth goes up quickly when you watch videos or movies online.

For instance if you stream 5 Netflix movies a month, you could burn up to 40 gigabytes. Add gaming to that and streaming music, you can hit 100 gigabytes a month.

A Suddenlink spokesperson said they are testing the internet overage penalties in several areas, but not yet in North Carolina.    

Under the plan, if you use more than 150 gigabytes, you could get charged $10 extra or move up into a bigger allowance plan.

Suddenlink says this is due to some people using an extremely high amount of bandwidth.

Conner said paying for allotted bandwith plans is something we're going to see more of, “Many people don't realize the huge investments that these corporations have to make in data infrastructure to be able to carry all that data, all of the systems that have to be implemented and all of the man power required to keep them us is incredibly expensive.  

When we mentioned Suddenlink’s proposal on facebook, many people shot back.

Kim Mariner said, “I will cancel my services with them!!!!!!”

Christy Kantor called it, “Ridiculous and unnecessary.” She said, “Bandwidth is not a finite resource. This is just another company taking advantage of customers for more profit, as if they don't make enough from their outrageous cable television & equipment costs.” 

“I’m not surprised at all,” said Brad Proctor with University PC Care. “When Verizon and AT&T started data caps and not doing the unlimited services, people were upset.”

Proctor of University PC Care fears the long term if Suddenlink and other internet providers go this direction.

“It's more of a future thing for me, online streaming is here, it's not going to go anywhere the content is only going to get bigger and the data consumption is only going to get bigger,” he said.

Suddenlink said 99 percent of current internet users would not need more than the basic plan.

Again, it is not in North Carolina yet.

Conner says bandwith usage caps are common around the world.

If you would like to see more on Suddenlink's internet allowance plan, just type in the Keyword: Suddenlink right here on our website.