AT&T extends throttling limit of grandfathered unlimited data plans to 22GB

[Shawn Knight]

It’s been years since AT&T last peddled an unlimited data plan. Those with enough insight to keep the plans they had before the telecom pulled the plug in 2012 have seen their “investment” wither away thanks to strict throttling policies and other restrictions.

If you happen to fall into this category, today brings good news. AT&T has increased the throttling limit for grandfathered unlimited data users to 22GB. Once this threshold is passed, a user’s line will become subject to what AT&T calls “network management practices” that could result in reduced data speeds and increased latency.

AT&T adds that speed reductions will only occur when a customer is using a device at times and in areas of high network traffic. As a courtesy, AT&T will inform customers when their data usage reaches 16.5GB (75 percent of their available 22GB of high-speed data).

If you think AT&T has increased its high-speed data limit from 5GB to 22GB out of the kindness of its heart, think again. The carrier has been trying to coax customers off their legacy unlimited plans through various means for years. As a result, they’ve fielded lawsuits from both the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC earlier this summer said it is planning to fine the carrier $100 million as a result of throttling practices. The lawsuit with the FTC, waged last October, is still ongoing.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/62130-att-extends-throttling-limit-grandfathered-unlimited-data-plans.html

 

[Wendig0]

 

[yRaz]

I stream music from my phone when I'm biking all the time and I have a hard time using more than 2 gigs a month. Perhaps if someone is watching videos on their phone(which I don't understand) or tethering their phone and watching youtube videos on their computer, I don't know how someone could use 22gb of data a month. Heck, I use under 100GB a month on my cable connection and I stream video all the time. Only time I use more than that is if I download a modern game which are frequently getting in the 50gb+ range.

 

[Wendig0]

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around this sentence "AT&T extends throttling limit of grandfathered unlimited data plans to 22gb."

I'm getting a nosebleed.

 

[Darth Shiv]

I cannot get my head around how they are allowed to get away with this.

Marketer: Let's call our plan "unlimited" because for average Joe, it's practically unlimited so we'll just drop practically and we're sweet right?

Common sense police: Cut that s%$t out. *back hander*

 

[Trillionsin]

So I've kept my unlimited data plan...

You guys serious you don't understand... are you really joking? Is it THAT hard to understand the concept? I don't really want a reply or an answer, but you just seem either stubborn or ignorant. Okay that's beside the point....

I haven't had cable internet for a couple weeks or cable TV for like two years now, and this unlimited data plan has really paid off for me these weeks. I'm currently at 14.7GB used, and I have until the 4th of next month. I've been downloading HD videos, ISOs, and programs and transferring them to my file server/Plex server. I'm not really concerned about the throttling to begin with, I haven't noticed any yet, but we'll see... I may very well double that number in the next week. TBH we watch more TV than ever, and then people ask me if I've seen that one commercial, you know where the guy does that thing and it's funny..... NOPE! On a separate thought, would it be better for companies to take the money they put into marketing and use it to make their products better or their customer service? Then word of mouth would be quite effective. I don't know, just a random thought. I guess people would argue that the business would never get off is feet and drown in the sea of advertisements before they could even make a buck to pay back their business loans.... or whatever, I don't know lol

 

[robb213]

I can't comprehend the mind of business people and stock holders...this is just going to lead to another fine from the FCC.

 

[Mr Mister]

Eventually, phone plans will be ruled by the phone manufactures themselves. These current phone plan providers will be reduces to data leasing, technical hardware service & maintenance companies.

 

[psycros]

The title SHOULD have read, "AT&T extends EVEN MORE RESTRICTIVE throttling limit of grandfathered unlimited data plans to 22GB." Their already limiting the speeds of unlimited plan users by around 50%. When you hit their (even worse) throttling amount they cut your speed by 90%.