One of the biggest questions we get with cord cutting is about data caps. People worry that they will get extra internet fees by streaming a lot of video. Data caps have turned into a huge profit center for internet service providers. The good news is the FCC is looking into data caps and may put limits on them or even ban them.
Recently FCC Chairwomen Rosenworcel announced that the FCC will investigate these data caps. Depending on how this investigation workout, it may result in new rules on how internet service providers can impose data caps.
With this investigation the FCC would like to better understand the current state of data caps, their impact on consumers, and whether the Commission should consider taking action to ensure that data caps do not cause harm to competition or consumers’ ability to access broadband Internet services.
The good news is you can help the FCC look at data caps and hopefully end them. If you want to help the investigation, the FCC has opened a new portal for consumers to share how data caps have affected them here: fcc.gov/datacapstories. By sharing your data cap stories, you can help the FCC better understand their impacts.
Specifically, the FCC is looking for feedback on the following areas:
- Seek comment to better understand why the use of data caps continues to persist despite increased broadband needs of consumers and providers’ demonstrated technical ability to offer unlimited data plans;
- Seek comment on current trends in consumer data usage;
- Seek comment on the impact of data caps on consumers, consumers’ experience with data caps, how consumers are informed about data caps on service offerings, and how data caps impact competition; and
- Ask about the Commission’s legal authority to take actions regarding data caps.
“Internet access is no longer nice-to-have, but need-to-have for everyone, everywhere. As we emerge from the pandemic, there are many lessons to learn about what worked and what didn’t work, especially around what it takes to keep us all connected,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “When we need access to the internet, we aren’t thinking about how much data it takes to complete a task, we just know it needs to get done. It’s time the FCC take a fresh look at how data caps impact consumers and competition.”
We will have to wait and see how this plays out. What we have learned is that investigations like this take a long time before they become rules that could, in this case, stop data caps. Hopefully though your story can help the FCC get a proper understanding of how data caps impact cord cutting.