Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is testing metered billing for broadband customers and will expand those tests to the Atlanta market Dec. 1. According to DSL Reports, the company has been experimenting with metered billing in several markets including Savannah, Ga.; Jackson, Miss.; Charleston, S.C.; Huntsville and Mobile, Ala.; and central Kentucky and will expand that trial to Atlanta starting Dec. 1.
The report cites a Comcast billing notice sent to one of its customers which says the company will allow customers 300 GB of data per month and then will charge them an additional $10 for every 50 GB of data they use over the 300 GB.
Comcast is also offering $5 monthly discounts to light Internet users similar to one of the options Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) offers in every state within its footprint except for Hawaii. Comcast said subscribers who take its "Economy Plus" tier will receive monthly credits of $5 on their bills if they consume less than 5 GB of data each month. Subscribers who download more than 5 GB of data will be charged $1 per gigabyte.
At deadline, Comcast had not responded to inquiries regarding this trial or the implementation of overage fees. However, the company does offer an explanation of the flexible data plan on its website.
Comcast also experimented with usage-based billing last year on its systems in Nashville, Tenn., and Tucson, Ariz. In Tucson, it has raised its standard 300 GB data cap if subscribers order one of its premium broadband tiers. Subscribers who purchased its 105 Mbps tier received a data cap of 500 GB, and customers who selected its Extreme 50 tier received a 450 GB cap.
For more:
- see this DSL Reports article
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